Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the budget for the school milk and school vegetables programme; the number of schools that benefit from the scheme; the way contracts are awarded for the provision of these foods to schools; and the conditions of the contract. [33404/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The EU school milk scheme provides financial assistance to dairies for supplying certain milk products to educational establishments. The aim of the scheme is to promote the consumption and the nutritional benefits of milk.

The scheme is co-funded by the EU and the Exchequer. In the school year 2007/08, the number of schools participating in the scheme was 1,356. The Exchequer contribution for that year was €325,000 and the EU funded amount was €600,000. Individual schools enter into a contract directly with a dairy to supply their pupils participating in the scheme with milk. The Department provides an aid to those dairies for supplying the milk at a subsidised rate. There is no contract between the Department and any of the participating schools in the scheme.

The National Food Dude Programme which is entirely exchequer funded has among its objectives the increased consumption of fresh fruit and 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. The National Roll out of the Food Dudes Programme commenced in April 2007 and between then and June 2008 some 784 schools (120,833 pupils) participated. In October 2008 a further 119 schools (13,460 pupils) joined the programme with a further 123 schools to join in November of this year. The budget for 2008 is €3.9m.

The programme consists of a cycle of four 4-day tasting periods with an awards system for continued consumption. It is administered by Bord Bia who have contracts awarded in accordance with Public Procurement rules for the provision and distribution of fruit and vegetables to schools; management of the programme in the schools; provision of rewards and video/DVD production and duplication. One of the terms of the contract is that they are renewable on an annual basis subject to availability of funding for the coming year. In addition, the contract for the supply of fruit and vegetable includes a detailed specification drawn up in consultation with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.