School Meals Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2015

Wednesday, 6 May 2015

Questions (48)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

48. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 31 March 2015, the name of the school to which she refers; the engagements her Department has had with this school to resolve the issue; the level of funding her Department will provide to this school in order that it can resume the provision of school lunches for its pupils for the remainder of this school year; if sufficient funding will be made available to this school for the next school year in order that this issue does not arise again; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17340/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations which benefits over 205,000 children. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement by children especially those from the most disadvantaged background. Government has provided €39 million for the scheme in 2015 which includes an additional €2 million over that provided last year.

The school referred to by the Deputy is a primary school in County Donegal. I can confirm that officials have engaged with the school principal both in writing and by telephone in recent weeks. Having reviewed the matter, arrangements are being made to provide additional funding of some €7,500 to the school to provide school lunches for the remainder of this school year. Applications for funding for the 2015-16 academic year will be considered when the school make their application which is generally made at the end of the school year in June.