Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2014
372. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the introduction of a new fund to support the provision of food and consumer products for persons who are the most deprived; if this will have €3.5million in funding from the EU and Exchequer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7666/14]
View answerThe European Council has advised that the regulation to create and underpin the operations of this new EU Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived will be adopted by the Council in early March and will come into effect shortly thereafter. The Fund will support national schemes whereby food products and basic consumer goods are distributed to those identified as being the most deprived. Under this regulation, Member States will be required to devise operational plans to procure supplies and support the distribution of food and consumer good using partner organisations (NGOs) and other public bodies to support these efforts.
The Department of Social Protection has been tasked with the development of the operational programme and has been in discussion with the European Commission and other agencies in setting out the implementation arrangements. A key priority for the Department is to ensure the administrative and associated cost burdens associated with the Fund are minimised to ensure that the indicative EU and Exchequer allocation of up to €3.5m per annum is prioritised for the purchase of goods. The programme requires certain tasks to be undertaken in the preparation of the operational programme, including consultation with interested parties and stakeholders. The current position is that the European Commission is continuing to finalise its guidance for Members States to underpin the delivery of the programme. Given that this Fund represent a new and innovative approach to the delivery of such support, a number of matters remain to be clarified before commitments to a particular delivery approach can be made.
