Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 17: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her attention has been drawn to the European Commission proposal to give free fruit and vegetables to school children throughout the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7091/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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At its meeting on 12 June 2007, the Council of Agriculture Ministers invited the Commission to come forward with a proposal for a school fruit scheme as soon as possible based on an impact assessment of the benefits, practicability and administrative costs involved. On 18 December 2007 the Commission launched a public consultation procedure and that process will continue until the end of February. A summary of the contributions received will be included in the impact assessment report, which the Commission intends to present in May 2008. This may be followed by a formal proposal to Council in June/July 2008 for a school fruit scheme.

The Food Dude programme, in which 900 schools will participate in the years 2007 and 2008, will provide a good environment in Ireland for take-up of a school fruit scheme. The programme developed by the University of Wales encourages children to develop a positive attitude to fruit and vegetables through role models (the Food Dudes characters), repeated tasting and rewards. Qualitative evaluations of the EU and national programmes have been very positive.