asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if persons (details supplied) in County Cork are entitled to free beef.
52.
Written Answers. - Free Food Eligibility.
51.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider granting concessions under the free food scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is a deserted wife.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 52 together.
This year I succeeded in obtaining an increased allocation of intervention beef from the EC for distribution to the most needy welfare categories. As a result it has been possible to extend the scheme substantially and accordingly some 120,000 people have benefited under the 1989 arrangements compared with less than 50,000 in 1988.
The overall quantity of beef available is strictly limited, however, and thus it has been necessary to identify specific beneficiaries in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare. The 1989 scheme, therefore, was restricted to: (1) recipients of long term unemployment assistance and equivalent FÁS trainees; (2) recipients of long term supplementary welfare allowance; and (3) hostels and day-centres providing means for homeless people.
The conditions of the free beef scheme, including the matter of eligibility, are reviewed each year and I will be seeking to extend its application even further in future years. The increase in the numbers eligible for this year's scheme demonstrates the Government's clear commitment to expand the scheme to the maximum possible extent.