Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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193. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on funding available to food banks (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23382/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) is worth €3.8 billion in real terms across all Member States. Ireland’s share is roughly €22.8m and with an Exchequer contribution of €4m will provide some €26.8m overall in support for the period to the end of December 2023.

The Department of Social Protection is the designated managing authority and is responsible for the implementation of the programme. The European Commission approved the Irish Operational Programme in December 2014 and preparations are being finalised to allow for roll-out of the programme nationally. The Irish programme provides that the Department can make cash grants to designated organisations to enable the purchase and distribution of both food and non-food material aid to persons deemed to be the most deprived. A call for proposals from eligible organisations will open in the coming weeks. In addition to the European funded programme, the Department has provided support for the development of national food recovery, storage and distribution infrastructure which will support the delivery of support under the FEAD programme.