School Meals Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2015

Thursday, 9 July 2015

Questions (99)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

99. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the need to extend breakfast clubs for school children during the summer break. [28148/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of 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.

Despite pressure on the social protection budget, the Government allocated an additional €2 million for the school meals programme in 2015, providing a total allocation of €39 million. The Department is currently receiving applications for the scheme for the forthcoming school year and is examining options for the allocation of the additional funding with an emphasis on the promotion of breakfast clubs.

Schools are generally closed during the summer break and do not operate food clubs during this period. Any change in social welfare supports generally would have to be considered in a budgetary context.