Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 May 2001

Vol. 536 No. 3

Written Answers - School Meals Scheme.

Austin Currie

Question:

210 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to an increasing number of children attending school who are hungry; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that a number of children who are truants from school would attend if meals were provided; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the laudable efforts of voluntary and community based groups are inadequate to cope with the problem and that a State wide Government organised school meals service is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14264/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

I have felt for some time that the original school meals scheme falls a long way short of what is required to properly address this issue. I do not consider that a simple expansion of that scheme would meet the needs of today's school going 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, known as breakfast or lunch clubs. Many of the projects have given very positive feedback, children's punctuality and attendance levels at school have improved and teachers have noticed that their attention levels have also improved. The breakfast/lunch clubs provide a forum where children can meet and network with their friends in a calm relaxed atmosphere and then proceed to class in a more positive frame of mind.

The overwhelming area of concern identified by these projects was the lack of State funding for them. I agree with the Deputy that the excellent work done by voluntary and community groups is laudable and I decided last year that an immediate response was required. Pending completion of the review I provided £100,000 interim funding under a new scheme that I introduced in 2000 – the school meals community programme. Given the success of that initiative, I have increased the funding in 2001 to £300,000. 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 scope of the original statutory scheme. It supports existing initiatives that are targeting areas of disadvantage or children with special needs and it is available on a nation-wide basis to both primary and secondary schools.

To date, the funding has been allocated to 62 projects and will benefit almost 5,000 children. In addition, a further seven applications are currently on hand and decisions in relation to these will be made shortly. As I have stated, these measures were taken as an interim measure to provide immediate practical support pending the completion of the review.

With regard to the longer term, it is clear that State wide coverage with full Government support, including substantial funding, is required. However, the question of how best to organise schools meals provision into the future, and specifically whether a State wide Government organised school meals service is required, has yet to be finalised. The primary consideration will be how to maximise the benefit to disadvantaged children but regard will also be had to the wider social gain that can flow from the direct involvement of local communities in school meal provision. 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.