Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if an evaluation of the effectiveness of the food dudes pilot scheme in primary schools has been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the implementation of the scheme to date. [45803/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Evaluations of the Food Dude Programme were undertaken by UCD in 2006 and 2007, which indicated that children who participated in the programme were now consuming more fruit and vegetables both at school and at home. The success of the pilot programme was recognised when it was awarded the International Best Practice Award from the World Health Organisation in 2006. An evaluation of the earlier Bord Glas pilot scheme which was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition earlier this year concluded that the Food Dude intervention was effective in changing parental provision and children's consumption of lunchbox fruit and vegetables in Ireland.

A further evaluation was undertaken in 2008, which found that the programme was very well received by over 90% of participating children, parents and teachers.