David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1170. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funding streams available through his Department for foodbanks, or other initiatives involving food supports. [58334/25]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1171. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funding streams available through his Department for foodbanks, or other initiatives involving food supports. [58336/25]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1172. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funding streams available through his Department for foodbanks, or other initiatives involving food supports. [58337/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1170 to 1172, inclusive, together.

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Food and Basic Material Assistance programme in Ireland provides food assistance to the most deprived.

The ESF+ Managing Authority is the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, they have overall responsibility for implementation of the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training programme.

The specific objective of addressing material deprivation through food and basic material assistance is managed by my department on behalf of Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

The total value of ESF+ funding allocated to support the most deprived until 2027 is €33.7m. Reimbursement from the European Commission is provided at 90% with the remaining 10% coming from the exchequer.

The programme seeks to help people take their first steps out of poverty and social exclusion by addressing their most basic needs i.e. food and or basic materials.

The aim with this programme, is to have a geographical spread of charities and nationwide availability of ESF+ product. Aid under this programme is targeted for those on the margins of society and in need of essential supports.

Effectively, the support targets:

• homeless persons including long-term rough sleepers
• children in low income/work intensity households
• victims of domestic violence in refuges and shelters
• persons suffering or recovering from addiction
• certain members of the Roma and Traveller communities
• vulnerable persons transitioning to independent living from emergency accommodation, institutionalised care settings or places of detention
• any person without income, accommodation or means not otherwise defined above