Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will support the European Commission proposal to give free fruit and vegetables to school children throughout the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19624/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, 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 based on an impact assessment of the benefits, practicalities and administrative costs that would be involved. On 18 December 2007 the Commission began a public consultation process which ended on 29 February 2008. The Commission is currently working on its impact assessment report of different options for EU intervention and it is expected that it will present a proposal to Council in July. I look forward to the publication of the Commission's proposal and I will certainly support an initiative to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables among schoolchildren as I believe that this will have long-term health benefits for the upcoming generations.

In this context I should point out that a national programme ("Food Dudes") designed to increase consumption of fresh fruit & vegetables among school children during school time and at home as well as a change in parental behaviour towards purchase and consumption of fresh fruit & vegetables was introduced in 2007. This programme, which is funded by my Department and operated by an Bord Bia, rewards repeat tastings and has proven quite successful. Some 625 schools and 85,000 children will receive the programme this year.