Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2016
322. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if administration fees will be provided with grants of over €10,000 in view of his Department's requirement for separate bank accounts for the payment of these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31764/16]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of €42 million in 2016. Budget 2017 announced an additional €5.7 million for school meals, increasing funding to €47.7 million which will benefit over 50,000 extra children. Funding under the scheme is for food costs only.
Following an audit of the school meals scheme by the Comptroller and Auditor General in 2014 a number of improved control measures were introduced, including the requirement for existing schools receiving payments in excess of €10,000 per annum to operate a separate bank account for school meals funding from the commencement of the 2016/2017 school year. The control measures introduced will improve and strengthen the overall control within the scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
