Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she plans to launch an initiative to support the International Year of the Potato by the UN in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27081/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Details of support for the International Year of the Potato (IYP) were announced by my colleague Minister Sargent on 18 October. My Department will provide significant funding to support the activities of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), which is the lead United Nations' agency for the IYP. I have already made an initial payment of $150,000 to FAO and the total contribution from my Department will be $300,000. Throughout the world, governments, scientists, farmers and others will focus on the potential of the potato to improve food security and nutrition and to reduce hunger and poverty. The FAO activities will include information generation and dissemination through conferences and symposia to review research policies and chart the future direction of the sector. It is hoped to encourage action throughout the developing world to focus on potato systems including crop yields, extension training on improved varieties and production systems.

To mark the IYP at home, a national programme of events is being organised for 2008 by a committee comprising representatives of the trade, an Bord Bia, Teagasc and my Department. The emphasis of the programme will be on nutrition. The programme will include activities for schools and in particular a primary school competition that aims to promote both the awareness and the growing of the potato. In addition there will be a website devoted to the potato and throughout the year agricultural show and heritage centres will feature the potato. The programme, which has not yet been finalised, will primarily be funded by the industry and an Bord Bia.