Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason the food distributed here in 2010 under the most deprived persons scheme was full-saturated-fat cheese; his proposals for the scheme in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21316/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the EU regulation governing the most deprived scheme products supplied under the scheme have to be from the same food grouping as those products that are stored in Intervention. Ireland had butter and skimmed milk powder in intervention storage in 2010 and so product supplied under the scheme would have to be from the dairy grouping. One company responded to the EU tender for the supply of products in the dairy range in 2010 with a proposal for cheddar cheese, which was then supplied in 1 kg packets. Cheese is a high source of protein, calcium, phosphorous, vitamins A and B12 and also provides zinc, iodine, vitamin B2 and folate.

The tender for 2011 was issued in December 2010, subject to EU arrangements and cheddar cheese is again being supplied to charities. In regard to 2012, I am open to any alternative suggestions within EU rules to encourage more varied proposals.