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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Mar 1949

Vol. 114 No. 9

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Accommodation for School Meals.

Mr. A. Byrne

asked the Minister for Education if he will make provision in the building of all new schools for the erection of a room suitable for children to partake of the benefits of School Meals Acts.

Existing legislation places upon local authorities the responsibility for the provision of accommodation, apparatus, etc., for the preparation and distribution of meals to school children, but under the relevant Acts the provision of such accommodation is not mandatory. It is not accordingly the function of the Department of Education to make provision in the building of all new schools for the erection of a room suitable for children to partake of the benefits of School Meals Acts. I propose, however, to institute inquiries with a view to ascertaining whether it might not be possible for my Department, in conjunction with the Commissioners of Public Works, to include, in the plans of new schools in areas to which the School Meals Acts apply, accommodation of the kind envisaged, provided that in each such case the appropriate local authority is prepared to recoup the cost of the provision of such additional accommodation. Having regard to the number and variety of the interests involved, I cannot give any indication as to when a result to such inquiries can be expected, but the matter will have all possible attention.

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