(Dublin North-West) asked the Minister for Trade, Commerce and Tourism if he will agree to have gluten-free bread included in the subsidies that cover all other bread products.

Subsidy is only payable on standard bread, that is batch bread or pan bread. It is not payable on other bread.

(Dublin North-West): Is the Minister aware of the increase in the number of persons who have been diagnosed as coeliacs? Is he aware of the hardship this has caused to those people because gluten-free bread and bread products cost 50 per cent more than ordinary bread and bread products?

While not seeking to diminish in any way the Deputy's concern for people who fall into the category he is interested in, I would point out that the bread subsidy is such as to provide for the consumption of ordinary batch and pan bread. If, as I understand is the case, the gluten-free bread is for medical purposes it would be a matter for the Minister for Health, not for the bread subsidy.

Would the Minister have information available as to the estimated cost of the bread subsidy in this year on the ordinary bread loaf?

In the present year?

Yes, if the Minister has it.

I do not have the information.

Has he any information as to how much it would cost to take gluten-free bread into that subsidy?

It is payable only in respect of batch or pan bread. It is not meant to be a subsidy on what could be described as bread prescribed purely for medical purposes. The question of any kind of subsidy for that type of bread would be for the Minister for Health.