Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Feb 2001

Vol. 529 No. 3

Written Answers. - School Meals Scheme.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

31 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department is still of the view that nutrition plays a vital role in educational development; the progress to date in the cross departmental committee established to examine the operation of the school meals scheme; if he has satisfied himself from an education point of view that the scheme is operating with optimum effectiveness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2751/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

My Department supports the view that good nutrition is central to a child's educational development. Evidence from existing studies shows that there is a significant positive relationship between improved dietary status and school performance. Research suggests that providing school meals is associated with improved school attendance, decreased tardiness and an improvement in children's cognitive functioning and academic achievement.

A knowledge of what constitutes a nutritionally balanced diet is acknowledged as being of importance for students. To support this, nutrition education is featured across the curriculum in post primary schools. Healthy eating is included in the physical health module of the social, personal and health programme, which is taught to all classes in junior cycle. Within home economics, which is taken by approximately one third of the junior cycle cohort, food and nutrition constitutes 40% of the programme with significant emphasis being placed on the links between food and health. Food composition and food nutrients are also included in the junior certificate science programme.

The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs engaged consultants to carry out a review of the school meals scheme, which was completed in 1998. A working group comprising representatives from the Departments of Social, Community and Family Affairs, Finance, Health and Children, Environment and Local Government and my Department was subsequently set up to evaluate the scheme. This group is currently examining the scope for alternative policy and organisational approaches, which might result in a more efficient and effective operation of the scheme. It is expected that the group will have completed its work before the end of this year. Until the group has completed its review and presented its report, I am not in a position to state whether the scheme is currently operating with optimum effectiveness from an educational point of view.