Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 303: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the action he is taking to tackle food poverty in 2005; the funding being allocated in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18219/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department through its various social assistance schemes provides income supports to people to meet their basic living needs, including food, clothing, heat and light. Supplements are also payable in certain circumstances for specific needs, for example fuel allowances, rent supplements, living alone allowance for older people or the household benefits package for pensioners, eligible disabled people and carers.

Where people on low incomes have particular medical conditions or dietary requirements, diet supplements are available through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive.

My Department also provides funding for school meals under two strands, namely the urban school meals scheme and the local projects scheme. The urban school meals scheme operates in conjunction with certain local authorities and is co-funded by my Department. The local projects scheme provides funding to secondary, national, pre-schools and community groups in both urban and rural areas who provide school meals.

For families with school-going children, school meals can make a real and important contribution to ensuring that children receive better nutrition. Such services can also contribute to improved school attendance and quality of learning.

The 2005 provision for the school meals programme is €6.38 million. In addition, it is expected that expenditure on diet supplements under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme will amount to €7 million this year.

In recent years, budgetary increases in social welfare payment rates have consistently exceeded increases in the cost of living. This key policy is the primary focus of budget allocations to my Department each year, and it has helped ensure that those depending on social welfare experience real improvement in their ability to meet their basic needs, including provision of adequate food, heating etc.

In this regard, consumer price index information from the Central Statistics Office indicates that the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages has increased by less than 3% in aggregate in the three and a half year period since 2001. The cost of these items has actually decreased in recent months and now stands at levels comparable to those in 2002. Social welfare rates have been increased very significantly in this period.

I consider that this policy of providing real increases in primary social insurance and assistance payment rates is the most effective way overall of improving the standard of living of those who depend on social welfare income, with measures to support and encourage people of working age to take up employment or educational opportunities to help improve their financial position.

At a broader level, I endorse the calls made recently for the food industry to take an active and responsible attitude in improving the nutritional quality of food and to inform and educate people generally about better nutrition and healthy eating options at affordable prices.

I will continue to keep this issue under review, particularly in the context of the recent task force report on tackling obesity.