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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 7

Written Answers. - Butter Vouchers.

Michael Ring

Question:

146 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the value of the butter vouchers was reduced to 50p per month; and when this was introduced. [14915/98]

This measure is fully funded by the European Union without any national Exchequer contribution. Ireland is the only member state operating the scheme. Since 1988, EU legislation requires the EU Commission to review the scheme every two years. On foot of a review in late 1996, the European Commission, in its report to the Council proposed that the scheme should be extended for a further two years at an unchanged aid level. The Commission also recommended that the monthly entitlement be halved to reflect the general decline in per capita butter consumption in Ireland which has fallen from 2lbs per month to under 1lb. The Agriculture Council agreed in December 1996 to continue the scheme for a further two years on the basis of the Commission proposal.

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