Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:40 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will reform and develop the school meals service. [29680/00]
Vol. 528 No. 2
40 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will reform and develop the school meals service. [29680/00]
As I informed the House on 9 November last, I have felt for some time that the current school meals scheme falls a long way short of what is required. A major reform of the scheme is needed and accordingly, I established an interdepartmental working group chaired by my Department to review the scheme from first principles.
The review is being undertaken as part of the series of expenditure reviews which seek to ensure that spending programmes are still relevant and to identify priorities for adjustments in expenditure. In this case, proposals are being developed for a reformed school meals scheme that will meet the needs of today's school-going children in an efficient and effective manner.