Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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2529. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will publish a plan and funding scheme for schools and colleges to provide access to land on which students can grow their own food as detailed in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19889/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The commitment in the Programme for Government is that "we will encourage schools and colleges to provide access to land where students can grow their own food".

Great benefits can derive for communities, including our schools, through promoting access to healthy food and a shared learning of food production and of the environment in which we live.

The Deputy will be aware no doubt of the Incredible Edibles initiative run by Agri-Aware, a private Irish agri-food educational body. It is established as a charitable trust funded by the Irish farming and agri-food industry and is sponsored by a number of private and public organisations including my Department and State Bodies under my remit. Incredible Edibles is a healthy eating initiative for Primary School pupils. It encourages schools across the country to get busy growing carrots, lettuce, potatoes, strawberries, turnips and herbs. Schools are supplied with grow packs containing everything they need to grow a feast of healthy foods. Accompanying measures such as curriculum linked activity sheets, a log book, a growing planner and videos are available on the website. Everything that is needed to learn about where food comes from and the importance of fruit, vegetables and potatoes is also available to download.

The Deputy may also be aware of the EU School Scheme incorporating both the School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme (implemented in Ireland as Food Dudes) and the School Milk Scheme (as Moo Crew), both involving the distribution of ready to eat fresh fruit, vegetables and drinking milk to school children over the school year. My Department has policy oversight for the implementation of that scheme.

I am a great supporter of these school-based schemes and recently announced the launch of new educational videos to schools featuring sporting heroes who are strong role models for children in terms of encouraging the promotion of a healthy eating lifestyle as part of a balanced diet.

I understand that my colleague, the Minister for Education,Norma Foley in terms of the remit of her Department over such matters, supports the use of school facilities for recreational and community use, subject to the agreement of the owner of the property and taking into consideration the needs of the school, staff and students. Officials of my Department will be engaging with colleagues in that Department on this cross cutting commitment to explore options on how the commitment can be best be achieved.