Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 540: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if An Bord Bia is to receive from the European Commission €200,000 per year over the next three years to fund a programme to promote Irish fruit and vegetables in the EU; if the matching funds of €200,000 per year for three years have been allocated; the way in which this money will be used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22125/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that the European Commission has approved €1.2 million in funding for a promotion programme aimed at increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables in up to 150 Irish primary schools over the next three years. The programme based on a concept known as Food Dude and was prepared by An Bord Bia and recommended by my Department is being implemented under Council Regulation 2826/2000 on funding promotion and information programmes for agricultural products in the European Union.

This regulation provides that programmes shall be funded 50% by the European Commission, 20% by the member state and 30% by the trade organisation representative of the sector being promoted. Accordingly, the campaign will be co-funded by the European Commission, €600,000, the Department of Agriculture and Food, €240,000, and €360,000 by Wholesale Produce Ireland Limited, a representative body for the fresh produce industry in Ireland. My Department has allocated sufficient funding to cover the member state contribution for the duration of the programme.

The Food Dude programme was developed by researchers at the Bangor food research unit at the University of Wales and is designed to encourage school children to develop a liking and taste for fruit and vegetables. It will do this by means of customised rewards for eating fruit and vegetables, role model encouragement by way of a video, a home pack and both teacher and parental participation to actively encourage continued consumption. The aim is to encourage school children to eat more fruit and vegetables as part of a balanced diet. An Bord Bia will be responsible for overall management of the project and recently concluded a contract with my Department to carry out the measures.