Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
223. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a school (details supplied) can reassess how funding allocated by her Department through the hot school meals programme can be spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21064/24]
View answerThe 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. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. 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 School Meals Programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme that has taken place in recent years. As part of this significant expansion plan, 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 and late last year these schools were invited to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme from 8th April 2024. The remaining primary schools have since been contacted to express an interest in joining the scheme from September 2024.
Funding under this programme is solely for food. All schools who wish to avail of the School Meals Programme are responsible for choosing their own school meals supplier on the open market in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with Public Procurement rules and the primary relationship is between school and supplier. The subject of funding for music and play therapy is a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
