Vol. 520 No. 1
34 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has given consideration to provision of a school breakfast to all primary school children in disadvantaged or partnership areas, following the success of the recent pilot scheme in Dublin's northside. [15039/00]
As part of the programme evaluation process, an interdepartmental working group, established by my Department, is currently reviewing the school meals scheme. The scheme provides financial assistance to local authorities, except county councils, for the provision of school meals for national school children who are "unable by reason of lack of food to take full advantage of the education provided for them".
The working group is composed of representatives from my Department, the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science, the Environment and Local Government, and Finance, as well as Dublin Corporation and the County and City Managers' Association. This is indicative of the broad range of stakeholders in this area.
In the course of the review, the working group has been engaged in a comprehensive consultation process. The views of many organisations have been canvassed and a survey has been issued to all local authorities to ascertain their views on the scheme. To obtain the views of school principals and teachers, and to become familiar with any local initiatives in the area of school meals, a survey has also been issued to a representative sample of schools, including all disadvantaged primary schools.
In addition, the working group has consulted and continues to consult those involved in initiatives, such as that mentioned by the Deputy.
At its last meeting the group was given a presentation on a pilot school meals project run by the PAUL Partnership in Limerick. The working group's previous meeting included a visit to a school meals programme supported by the Drogheda Partnership. The group's next meeting, which is scheduled for tomorrow, 31 May, includes a visit to the Dublin 17 Breakfast Club.
The consultation process and the group's direct engagement with those involved in developing and managing these worthwhile initiatives, will assist the group greatly in its deliberations on the future policy direction of the scheme. The group hopes to complete its work before the end of the year and I look forward to receiving its report and to considering the issues at that stage.
I welcome the Minister's positive reaction to the three schemes he mentioned in Limerick, Drogheda and north Coolock. Children are anxious to get out to school at 8.40 a.m., as I saw in north Coolock this morning. A key element of their success is what they learn about nutrition, including the value of fruit, milk and other food and the need to eat a good basic breakfast in the mornings. Given that the former school meals service collapsed, what would be the cost of extending the pilot school meals project nationwide? In most other countries, including the United Kingdom, a hot meal is provided in schools where pupils have a full day's attendance.
In 1999, 31 local authorities participated in this scheme. The average annual departmental expenditure is approximately £750,000. The Department funds 50% of the total expenditure of the scheme and the remaining 50% is funded by local authorities. I cannot give the Deputy the figures concerning the schemes that are being undertaken at present, but that will give a flavour of what has been taking place. The scheme started in 1914 and it has been changed over the years. While I strongly support my Department's initiative, the scheme is badly in need of review and that is why I have instituted such a review. Consultants provided the group with a report which made a number of recommendations, such as piloting alternatives to the current scheme, including a breakfast club. As I said in my reply, these types of initiative are already up and running and will provide the group with a pointer as to how to proceed.
Does the Minister accept that significant numbers of children are going to school hungry every day? Does he have any idea how many fall into that category, or has he bothered to find out? Does he accept that, in this day and age and with the funds at our disposal, it is a disgrace that young children should have to go to school hungry? Does he not accept that £750,000 is buttons when one thinks of the moneys that are available and the needs of those children? Will he give a commitment here and now, even at this late stage in the dying days of his Ministry, to ensure that this problem will be tackled?
I do not agree with the Deputy's last statement because I aim to be here for some considerable time. I will be able to take the view, as expressed by the—
It is very comfortable over here.
It is very easy to be over there and it is very easy to have all the answers.
The Minister knows all about that.
He will be enjoying it shortly.
The report of the working group will be published before the end of the year and I would like to act on it, but some of the issues the Deputy raised about the number of children are more pertinent to the Department of Education and Science which has the information more particularly than my Department. My Department is delivering the current scheme. If a new scheme is to be put in place – I would like to think that it will be—
The Minister could talk to the Minister for Education and Science in the same way as he was supposed to talk to the Minister with responsibility for the islands.
—more resources will be put into it and, if necessary, its delivery might be transferred to another Department which might have more information than we would have on it.
