Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will give the Deputy some of the figures. The official indicator of poverty is consistent poverty, which is the overlap of two measures, namely, at risk of poverty and basic deprivation. The basic deprivation indicator includes two items relating to the consumption of food. According to the CSO survey of income and living conditions of 2013, which contains the most recent statistics we have on this, 4% of the population were unable to afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish every second day and 8% were unable to afford a roast in addition once a week. Food-related items are, therefore, a very small component of the basic deprivation index. These statistics are available in full and listed in the survey of income and living conditions.

The Department of Social Protection provides income support to sustain an adequate standard of living and to prevent poverty. In 2013 social transfers, excluding pensions, lifted almost one quarter of the population out of being at risk of poverty. Ireland is among the best performing states. We come in slightly behind countries such as Denmark and Sweden. The OECD report of 15 September shows Ireland just after the Scandinavian countries in terms of performance. Our recovery is noted for the level of protection we have had for people on social welfare incomes and this can be seen in the OECD report.

The Department has a number of programmes to improve access to food for vulnerable people. The school meals programme will spend €39 million this year, which is an increase of €2 million on the last budget. It provides breakfasts and lunches to 1,700 schools and organisations in respect of approximately 220,000 children.

The Department administers the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, FEAD, which provides food and basic consumer products to people most at risk. Almost €27 million will be available over the period to 2020, of which 65% is for food. The Department advertised this programme in July and the applications process is ongoing. It is progressing very well and is being used by many organisations which provide meals to people.

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