Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:110. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding available from European funds for persons wishing to set up soup kitchens. [15949/14]
View answerThursday, 3 April 2014
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The regulation to create and underpin the operations of the new EU Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived was adopted by the Council in early March and came 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 European Commission is continuing to finalise its guidance for Members States to underpin the development of the operational programme and the delivery of the programme. Given that this Fund represents 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. Funding for the setting up of soup kitchens will not be eligible under this programme but supplies of provisions to such operations is envisaged as forming part of the future operation of the programme.