As the Deputy is aware the scheme was introduced to alleviate hardship suffered by persons in receipt of social assistance and to eliminate the butter mountain, which has been achieved. The scheme was never subsidised by the Exchequer despite fluctuations in the value of the subsidy in the past. The value of it remains unchanged at 52p per 11b of butter and the number of monthly vouchers per eligible person has been reduced from two to one in line with EU regulations.
The butter voucher scheme does not benefit all social welfare recipients. However, the Deputy will be aware this year's budget provided for substantial real increases for all beneficiaries. The increase of £3 per week in personal rates of payment together with an additional £1.50 in respect of adult dependants means that all social assistance beneficiaries will receive increases of between 4 per cent and 5 per cent, which is about twice the rate of inflation.
Regarding the Deputy's question about the level of consumption, the total number of vouchers made available has not been taken up in recent years. I do not have the precise figure. The reason for the 50 per cent reduction in the value of vouchers was given to the Deputy in a reply to a parliamentary question answered by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry. He stated that the Commission's recommendations stemmed from a significant reduction in Irish per capita consumption of butter, the annual tonnage of which fell from 40,000 to 13,000 in the 15 year period from 1981-95.
The level of butter consumption is less than 11b per person per month and the new level of subsidy reflects that position. That and the fact that Ireland is the only member state currently operating the butter voucher scheme made the 50 per cent reduction the most viable possible option for the retention of the scheme. The facts preclude the possibility of having that decision reversed.