asked the Minister for Agriculture if there is any policy in relation to the distribution of EEC food surpluses to persons in receipt of old age pension and other categories where the need is identified within this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Community schemes for the sale of beef and butter at reduced prices to persons receiving social assistance lapsed in April, 1975 and January, 1976 respectively. At the meeting of the Council of Ministers on the 14/15th February, I urged that such a social scheme should be reintroduced in the case of butter. There is provision in certain Community regulations for the sale at reduced prices of intervention stocks to social institutions.

Can the Minister say what amount of butter has been distributed to the people mentioned in the question?

The Deputy knows that for two years we had butter provided for all social welfare recipients at about 5p per pound.

5p per pound?

The peculiar thing about it was that not nearly all the people entitled to it took it.

The Minister might appreciate in these circumstances that the people who were entitled to it did not take it because they did not know about it.

They could not have missed knowing about it because it was widely advertised. It was talked about in the House and publicised as a result.

The Minister is aware that this butter programme is aimed at people who may not have a television set available to them, or the price of a newspaper? Can the Minister say how this programme was made known to them?

It was included in the social welfare booklet which was circulated by the Department to all those people.

Can the Minister give us the up-to-date position in relation to the butter programme?

It was not circulated by the Department of Agriculture but by the Department of Social Welfare.

What is the up-to-date position in relation to the question posed?

The up-to-date position is that I do not think it will be agreed in Brussels. I proposed every year it was omitted that it should be reintroduced. It was supported first by Germany and Britain, and since it has not been supported by either although a lot of extra butter was consumed in both these countries as a result of it.

It is a very important programme. Is the Minister saying he is pressing this programme?

Yes, I am pressing it but I am not getting support.

On the news report today it is stated that there are surplus stocks again being distributed. Would the Minister not renew his efforts?

I have done.

It was on the news today that there are vast surplus stocks to be distributed now in eastern Europe.

The surpluses are there; there is no difficulty about the amount being there.

Question No. 4.

Regarding the Minister's efforts on the reintroduction of the programme, will he ensure that the people the programme is aimed at will know about it?

It is a matter for another Minister.

It is not my responsibility but I will be advising the Department of Social Welfare that it is important.

Question No. 4.