School Meals Programme

Tuesday, 20 February 2024

Questions (367, 370)

John Lahart

Question:

367. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a progress report on the school meals programme and its successful expansion. [7554/24]

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370. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the timeline for the full installation of the hot school meals programme; if there is a commitment by her Department to cover all schools by the next Budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7614/24]

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Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 370 together.

The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding.

I am committed to continuing to expand the Hot School Meals Programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme that has taken place in recent years.

The roll out of the Hot School Meals to all remaining DEIS primary and Special schools began in September 2023. However, I am committed to further expanding the Hot School Meals Programme. All remaining primary schools were contacted last year and requested to submit an expression of interest form if their school is interested in commencing the provision of hot school meals.

Expressions of interests were received from over 900 primary schools in respect of 150,000 children. Late last year, these schools were invited to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme from April 2024. If all of these schools go on to participate, this would result in total participation in the Hot School Meals scheme of some 1,600 schools and 267,000 children. This would be a very positive outcome considering that the scheme involved just 30 schools at pilot stage when I started expanding it.

There will also be an opportunity for all other primary schools who have subsequently expressed an interest, to do so formally later this year.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.

Question No. 368 answered with Question No. 84.