Vol. 526 No. 6
126 Mr. Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department will consider providing financial assistance to the Consumers Association with a view to increasing consumer awareness. [27370/00]
In my reply to a similar question from Deputy Noonan earlier this month, I indicated that the Consumers' Association of Ireland had made a submission for funding two years ago to the Minister for Finance, which was supported by my Department once my officials were informed about it. While that application was not successful, the way is always open to the CAI to make a fresh submission for funding to the Minister for Finance.
On the specific issue of financial assistance for the purpose of increasing consumer awareness, an important element of the anti-inflation package approved by the Government last June was the mandate given to the Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs to initiate a vigorous programme of price monitoring and publicity, in order to highlight trends and patterns in prices and to encourage greater price sensitivity on the part of consumers in the interest of stimulating further competition. Additional staff and an advertising and publicity budget were made available to the Director of Consumer Affairs to mount this awareness campaign. The campaign is being carried out by the director in partnership with the CAI. In that connection, I understand from the director that, to date, she has funded the CAI to undertake four groceries price surveys.
