Róisín Shortall
Question:46 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has further proposals to extend the school meals programme nationwide. [10490/01]
Written Answers. - School Meals Programme.
I have felt for some time that the original school meals scheme falls far short of what is required. I do not consider that a simple expansion of that scheme would meet the needs of today's schoolgoing children in an efficient or effective manner. Accordingly, I established an interdepartmental working group to review the existing scheme with a view to developing proposals for the future of school meals provision.
As part of the review, my officials engaged in a wide ranging consultation exercise. This included meeting with and visiting some of those involved in new school meals initiatives at local level. The overwhelming area of concern identified by these projects was the lack of State funding and I decided that an immediate response was required. Pending completion of the review, I provided £300,000 interim funding under a new scheme, the school meals community programme. This funding is intended to meet the food costs of the voluntary and community based groups that are currently operating innovative school meals projects outside the original scheme. This funding is provided to existing initiatives that are targeting areas of disadvantage or children with special needs and it is available on a nationwide basis to primary and secondary schools.
To date, the funding has been allocated to 41 projects and will benefit approximately 4,150 children. In addition, a further 25 applications are currently on hand and decisions in relation to these will be made shortly. Inquiries have also been received from a further 12 projects. I expect to receive the working group's report in the summer, following which I hope to be in a position to bring proposals to Government regarding a reformed school meals scheme.