David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 115: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of food banks in operation in the country; the success of these food banks in combating food poverty; the measures her Department intends to take to encourage the expansion of the role of food banks (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14232/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Food banks are charitable organisations outside the ambit of central government and accordingly my Department has no role in their operation. In accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No. 3149/932 on the supply of food from intervention stocks for the benefit of the most deprived persons in the Community, my Department has in the past made intervention stocks available to charitable organisations, including the Dublin food bank.

The recent changes in the Common Agricultural Policy with decoupling of supports from production will align agriculture more closely with market and consumer requirements and lessen the availability of intervention stocks. My Department is willing to play a role in facilitating dialogue between the food industry and the charitable organisations for suitable alternative mechanisms for distribution to food banks or targeted groups.