Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 24 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Meals.

Austin Currie

Question:

250 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the schools in the Dublin mid-west constituency where there is provision for school meals; the extent of such provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25460/01]

School meals are funded by my Department using two different avenues at present. One is the school meals scheme, which has been operated in conjunction with certain local authorities for over 80 years. The other is the school meals community programme which I introduced last year. The school meals 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". In most cases, the local authorities provide participating schools with a sandwich or a bun and milk for each eligible child. My Department meets half of the food costs.

The school meals community programme meets the food costs of the voluntary and community based groups that are currently operating innovative school meals projects outside of the scope of the statutory school meals. This funding is provided to initiatives known as breakfast or lunch clubs at local level, that are targeting areas of disadvantage or children with special needs. The type of meals provided is decided by the local groups that design and run the projects. The amount of funding given by my Department depends on the type and number of meals provided.
The schools in the Dublin mid-west constituency that participate in the schemes are listed in the attached tabular statement. Schools that participate in the school meals scheme are listed in Table 1, while those that participate in the school meals community programme are listed in Table 2. As the Deputy may be aware, I have established an interdepartmental working group to review the school meals scheme with a view to developing proposals for the future of school meals provision. I expect to receive the working group's report towards the end of this year, following which I hope to be in a position to bring proposals to Government regarding a reformed school meals scheme.
Table 1 – Schools participating in the Schools Meals Scheme

Archbishop Ryan National Sch. Balygaddy

450

441

St. Peter Apostle Junior Sch. Neilstown

303

289

St. Mary's Junior School Rowlagh

318

298

St. Bernadette's Senior School Quarryvale

375

307

St. Mary's Senior School Rowlagh

375

372

St. Peter Apostle Senior Sch. Neilstown

277

272

St. Oliver's Park Pre-School Clondalkin

50

37

St. Joseph's National School Boot Road

23

22

Scoil Aine Presentation Convent Clondalkin

60

38

Scoil Mhuire Convent Road

21

19

St. Bernadette's Junior Sch. Quarryvale

355

308

The food provided in these cases is a third of a pint of milk, a sandwich and currant bun/muffin.
Table 2 – Schools participating in the Schools Meals
Community Programme.
The Get Ahead Club provides breakfast in seven schools to 48 children per week and 64 children are provided with a light meal twice a week.

School Name

Address

St. Peter Apostle Junior School

Neilstown

St. Peter Apostle Senior School

Neilstown

Archbishop Ryan National School

Balygaddy

St. Bernadette's Junior School

Quarryvale

St. Bernadette's Senior School

Quarryvale

St. Mary's Junior School

Rowlagh

St. Mary's Senior School

Rowlagh

Clondalkin Area Response to Absenteeism (CARA) Project provides breakfast to 72 children, a light meal to 36 children and dinner to 36 children twice a week in the primary schools. In the secondary schools breakfast is provided to 72 children twice a week, while a light meal, a dinner and a snack are provided to 72 children once a week.

School Name

Address

Archbishop Ryan National School

Balgaddy

Saint Bernadette's Senior National School

Quarryvale

Saint Peter Apostle Senior National School

Neilstown

Saint Mary's Senior National School

Rowlagh

Saint Ronan's National School

Deansrath

Scoil Talbot Senior National School

Bawnogue

Collinstown Park Community College

Collinstown

Deansrath Community College

Deansrath

Saint Kevin's Community College

Clondalkin

Top
Share