Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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162. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress of the food poverty working group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37779/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025, which was adopted by Government and published in January 2020, includes a commitment to ‘Develop a comprehensive programme of work to further explore the drivers of food poverty and to identify mitigating actions’ (Commitment 61).

The Food Poverty Working Group, which I chair, was established in April 2021 and aims to tackle the issue of food poverty in accordance with this commitment. The group met on four occasions in 2021 and has met twice this year to date. The group has focused on two pieces of work to date. The first is a high-level mapping exercise of programmes, services and supports across Government that address food poverty and provide supports in this area. Data gathering is complete, and a report expected to be published in the coming weeks.

The second piece of work is a research project to analyse the prevalence of food poverty in two selected case study areas: one urban and one rural. Broadly speaking, there are a range of known drivers of food poverty including: affordability; accessibility; sufficiency; and quality. However, this research aims to identify the drivers of food poverty in each case study area and examine the range of service providers and actors relating to food poverty in each area. It should also identify any gaps and overlaps in service provision. The findings from this research should further inform the delivery of commitment 61 of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.