Vol. 379 No. 10
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the categories of social welfare recipients which will be entitled to food under the EC free food scheme; when distribution will commence; the quantities which will be allocated to each person; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
44.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will make a statement on the EC free food scheme for 1988; the way in which it compares with last year's scheme; the persons who are entitled to it; the timing of the distribution; and the organisers of the distribution.
The Community's 1987 scheme for the supply of food to deprived persons in the Community was implemented as a response to the particularly severe weather conditions prevailing in the early months of the year. It operated for a limited period, therefore, but there was no limit on the quantities which could be distributed during the period.
The present scheme, which is confined to the distribution of intervention stocks, can operate, at each member states discretion, on a permanent basis or for certain periods during the year. A global allocation of 100 million ECU (about £80 million) has been provided for the scheme in 1988, of which 2.35m ECU (£1.8million) has been allocated to Ireland. I would have preferred a bigger EC scheme but, unfortunately, this could not be agreed because of the current EC budget constraints. Some member states pressed for a distribution of the allocation based on population but I insisted on a distribution which took account of the relative position of member states. I am pleased that the Commission took the latter approach and with only about 1 per cent of the Community's population Ireland will receive about 2.5 per cent of the allocation.
The Irish scheme for 1988, drawn up following consultations with the Department of Social Welfare and other bodies concerned, covers the following categories:
(a) homeless persons accommodated inhostels and shelters run by voluntary organisations, and
(b) certain social welfare recipients, i.e.
Recipients of long-term unemployment assistance who qualify for the fuel allowance,
recipients of long-term supplementary welfare allowance,
FÁS trainees who qualify for the fuel allowance.
The eligible hostels and shelters have now been allocated supplies of beef and butter based on their needs to the end of December next.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, who have agreed to operate the scheme in so far as the eligible social welfare recipients are concerned, are at present finalising arrangements for the distribution of beef. I am informed that the Society expect to be in a position to commence distribution of approximately 6 kgs of beef to eligible recipients in the very near future.
