Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her definition of food poverty; the measures she is taking to alleviate food poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42997/08]

Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Food poverty is usually defined as an inability to obtain an adequate, nutritious diet, because of lack of money, physical difficulty in getting to and from suitable shops, lack of equipment or cooking skills, and linguistic or cultural barriers. My Department's concern is to ensure that disadvantaged groups in particular have the resources available to enable them to have a healthy and nutritious diet. Poor diet and nutrition is a major cause of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and type-2 diabetes. Furthermore, rising childhood obesity levels are a problem across all socio-economic groups.

My Department is currently finalising a National Nutrition Policy, which, while addressing the nutritional needs of the whole population, will focus primarily on young people on the issue of food poverty in particular. Already, a number of actions have been undertaken at community level by the Health Service Executive. The HSE has worked with the Local Authorities and other groups to address the environmental factors that contribute to food poverty and obesity by developing food co-ops in disadvantaged areas. The HSE has also provided funding for the Food Poverty project Healthy Food for All which is being undertaken by a number of agencies, including St. Vincent de Paul, Combat Poverty and Safefood.

The school meals programme, which has been expanded significantly over recent years, provides funding directly to schools and organisations which are running school meals projects for disadvantaged children. On a more general note, in line with the Government's target in the National Ant-Poverty Strategy, increases in social welfare payment rates have consistently exceeded increases in the cost of living in recent years. This has helped to ensure that those depending on social welfare experience a real improvement in their ability to meet their basic needs, including provision of adequate food, heating, etc.