asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that FAO figures show that between 1969-1971 and 1972-1974 the number of under-nourished persons in the world grew by 54 million to 455 million altogether, or by twice the rate of overall growth in population, although it is estimated that world food production was 107 per cent of requirements in 1972-1974 as against 106 per cent in 1969-1971; if this divergent trend has in his opinion continued since 1974, and the changes in EEC policy which in his opinion as a member of the Council of Ministers would contribute to an alleviation of the situation.

The percentages which the Deputy quotes for world food production in fact relate to per capul daily food supply in terms of calories. These show that for the world as a whole there was a marginal increase in the daily surplus over daily requirements. The corresponding percentages for developing countries also showed a marginal increase—in this case a narrowing of the shortfall between requirements and supply. I would hope that this convergent trend is continuing.

The Community is fully alert to the problem of undernourishment in the world and is in the forefront as regards providing aid to alleviate hunger. In 1978 the Community's food aid programme cost over 220 million units of account.

Is the Minister stating that the figure I gave—that indicates that there are 455 million people at or near the brink of starvation—is incorrect?

I did not give a figure of approximately 400 million.

Would the Minister not agree that the situation is that, although more food per head is being produced in the world than was produced some years ago at the same time there are now more people starving and that this is radically wrong?

This seems to be the situation. As I have said, the Food Aid Programme of the EEC in 1978 cost over 220 million units of account so that the Community are doing their best to come to grips with the problem.

Would the Minister not agree that food aid, which may amount to nothing more than unloading some food we do not want to countries which cannot absorb it because it does not suit their particular diet, is not the answer to the problem of world starvation and that we need something more radical than that? Would the Minister of State agree to ask his Minister to look into this problem to ascertain what can be done at European level to solve the problem, because Ireland alone can do very little?

I will do that. But Ireland has played her own part too because we have contributed, or pledged to contribute, £600,000 to the programme for 1979 which will be used for the purpose of purchasing skim milk powder for needy countries.

Six hundred thousand pounds?

Yes, £600,000.

And that is disposing of our milk surplus to third countries?

It is for the purchase of skim milk powder for those countries.

Would the Minister not consider it would be better to enable the countries in question to produce their own food?

The climatic situations and everything else have to be taken into consideration; maybe that is not possible.