Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 November 2012
140. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will set out the criteria used in the determination of pupils' entitlement in the context of the school meals programme operated by community colleges in the vocational education committee sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50762/12]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services for disadvantaged children through two schemes. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects schemes through which funding is provided directly to participating schools and local and voluntary community groups who run their own school meals projects. The Government has provided €35 million for the school meals programme in 2012.
Funding under the school meals local projects scheme is for food costs only, subject to certain conditions. All food must be of suitable quality and nutritional value, and prepared and consumed in an appropriate environment. The type and range of meals provided, as well as the method and logistics of supplying the meals, are decided by the individual local groups and schools that operate the projects. Responsibility for all aspects of the day-to-day operation of the scheme lies with the school/group.
Schools may apply for funding for all pupils, if they feel such a need exists. There is no automatic entitlement to funding and all applications must be considered in light of the available budget for the scheme. Priority for funding is currently given to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skill’s initiative for disadvantaged schools, ‘Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools’ (DEIS). All DEIS schools who applied to join the scheme in the previous school year have been invited to participate in the 2012/2013 school meals programme. Over forty additional DEIS schools have joined the scheme during the past four years.
Payment under the scheme, which is paid in two instalments, is based on a rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided. Details of the various options available under the scheme and rates of payment per child are shown in the tabular statement.
Various food options and payment per child:
|
Breakfast/Snack |
€0.60 |
Cereal, Toast, Scone, Fruit, Yogurt, Milk, Juice-2 Items must be provided |
|
Lunch |
€1.40 |
Filled Sandwich/Roll or Soup & Roll or Salad Plate, plus 2 other items (eg Milk, Juice, Fruit, Yogurt) |
|
Dinner |
€1.90 |
Meat, Potatoes & Vegetables or Chicken Curry or Spaghetti Bolognaise, plus a drink (Milk, Juice, Water) |
