Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
376. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she would consider establishing a review of the possibility of including more fresh fruit and vegetables in the school meals programme; and to develop measures to minimise waste from uneaten food or containers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22405/24]
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.
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. Late last year, these schools were invited to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme from 8th April 2024. The remaining primary schools who have not yet joined the scheme have been contacted to express an interest to receive Hot School Meals from September 2024.
Under tender documentation as stipulated by the Schools Procurement’s Unit, the school meal supplier is responsible for operating policies which progressively addresses environmental considerations such as waste and packaging. The method and logistics of supplying the meals is decided by the school. Under tender documentation as stipulated by the Schools Procurement’s Unit, the school is committed to the principles of environmental management in its activities and it encourages the implementation of sustainability principles in its procurement practices and that the supplier should make all reasonable efforts to minimise adverse environmental impact in the methods of services delivery and in materials used.
In addition under tender documentation as stipulated by the Schools Procurement’s Unit, the successful service provider is to provide fresh, seasonal nutritious produce (organic where possible), fruits, vegetables, grains, other foods, that may be new to students. The menu is to include a range of locally sourced items along with a greater use of sustainable food, for example, in season produce, high animal welfare standards on meat, free range eggs, marine conservation certified fish, fair trade produce, produce from certified organic source.
My Department provides funding directly to schools to enable them to source and provide meals that meet the Healthy Ireland Nutritional Standards for School Meals which were developed by a working group led by the Health and Wellbeing Programme, in consultation with Safefood and the Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme in the Health Service Executive. The Nutritional Standards specify what fruit and vegetables should be provided with each meal type in addition to providing guidance on serving sizes.
Responsibility for sourcing the meals is a matter for the Board of Management of each school, but to secure funding they must first agree to apply the standards set out by signing a Service Level Agreement which clearly sets out the school’s responsibilities and obligations in terms of Nutritional Standards. Funding is not provided to schools who do not commit to this undertaking and can be withdrawn if they do not adhere to the standards set out. My Department does monitor adherence to the standards including through site visits.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
