asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether further to replies of 27th June on the subject of the school meals service his attention has been drawn to remarks made on 28th June at the annual meeting of Saor an Leanbh that plenty of children in Dublin to-day suffer from the chronic hunger of the child fed mainly on bread and tea; and whether he will consider, in the light of these remarks, taking steps to improve the school meals service in such a way as to ensure that these children will not receive a meal of the bread and tea type through the school meals service as well as in the home.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - School Meals Service.
57.
I have seen press reports of the meeting referred to by the Deputy.
School meals are intended to restore the energy of children at a period of the day when their energy is likely to flag and were never contemplated as taking the place of ordinary home meals. The Acts do not empower the Minister to direct what type of meal should be supplied.
I might mention that tea is not given as part of any meal under the School Meals Scheme.