Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 May 2017
67. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding provided to schools in County Tipperary for the school meals scheme; if he will expand the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24779/17]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to 1,460 schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of some €47.7 million in 2017. As part of Budget 2017, the funding for the scheme was substantially increased this year by an additional €5.7 million (representing almost 14% over the previous year’s allocation) which will benefit over 50,000 children. For the 2016/2017 academic year, a total of some €1.2 million has been allocated to 43 schools in Tipperary benefitting over 4,360 children.
In recent years priority for new applications for funding had been given to schools which are part of the DEIS programme. From September 2016 additional funding is available to all DEIS schools to provide breakfast and lunch to the majority of pupils. Budget 2017 funding also provides for the inclusion in the scheme, from September 2017, of up to 240 new schools supporting 47,000 children. This includes support to those schools being brought into DEIS and the extension of the scheme to breakfast clubs in non-DEIS schools, which is the first time in many years that increased payments will be provided outside of DEIS. The 240 schools selected, following engagement with the Department of Education and Skills, have been contacted by my Department to join the scheme from September. Those selected include 19 schools in Tipperary with a combined enrolment of over 3,100 children, of which applications have been received from 13 schools to date.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
