Vol. 561 No. 6
53 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when the new targeted scheme for school meals for disadvantaged pupils will be established in regard to the commitment given in An Agreed Programme for Government; the way in which the areas for inclusion will be selected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26712/02]
65 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her proposals for the extension of the school meals programme; her assessment of the effectiveness and adequacy of the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4824/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 65 together.
The school meals programme makes an important contribution to ensuring that school children receive better nutrition and contributes to improved school attendance and quality of learning. In 2002, I provided €1 million under the school meals community programme which benefited a total of 109 schools and voluntary organisations covering 11,000 children. This year an additional €2 million is provided in the budget which will enable me to expand the programme. My Department, together with a number of other Departments and agencies has carried out a review of the school meals scheme and the report of the review group has been completed. The review group proposed a number of criteria for selecting areas or schools for inclusion and specifically proposes that secondary schools with the highest concentration of pupils at risk of early school leaving as well as their primary feeder schools should be targeted. The working group recommended that in view of the scale of implementation, new arrangements should be introduced on a phased basis. They recommended that, initially, the most extremely disadvantaged schools should be targeted. They are currently being identified. It is also proposed to identify children at risk who are not in specific target schools as well as children with special needs. When the necessary preparatory work has been done and the issues, including resource issues have been clarified I will bring proposals to Government in this matter.
Question No. 54 answered with Question No. 19.
