Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 6

Written Answers. - School Meals.

Austin Currie

Ceist:

250 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the schools in the Dublin mid-west constituency where there is provision for school meals; the extent of such provision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25460/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern):

School meals are funded by my Department using two different avenues at present. One is the school meals scheme, which has been operated in conjunction with certain local authorities for over 80 years. The other is the school meals community programme which I introduced last year. The school meals scheme provides financial assistance to local authorities, except county councils, for the provision of school meals for national school children who are "unable by reason of lack of food to take full advantage of the education provided for them". In most cases, the local authorities provide participating schools with a sandwich or a bun and milk for each eligible child. My Department meets half of the food costs.

The school meals community programme meets the food costs of the voluntary and community based groups that are currently operating innovative school meals projects outside of the scope of the statutory school meals. This funding is provided to initiatives known as breakfast or lunch clubs at local level, that are targeting areas of disadvantage or children with special needs. The type of meals provided is decided by the local groups that design and run the projects. The amount of funding given by my Department depends on the type and number of meals provided.

The schools in the Dublin mid-west constituency that participate in the schemes are listed in the attached tabular statement. Schools that participate in the school meals scheme are listed in Table 1, while those that participate in the school meals community programme are listed in Table 2. As the Deputy may be aware, I have established an interdepartmental working group to review the school meals scheme with a view to developing proposals for the future of school meals provision. I expect to receive the working group's report towards the end of this year, following which I hope to be in a position to bring proposals to Government regarding a reformed school meals scheme.

Table 1 – Schools participating in the Schools Meals Scheme

Archbishop Ryan National Sch. Balygaddy	450	441
St. Peter Apostle Junior Sch. Neilstown	303	289
St. Mary's Junior School Rowlagh	318	298
St. Bernadette's Senior School Quarryvale	375	307
St. Mary's Senior School Rowlagh	375	372
St. Peter Apostle Senior Sch. Neilstown	277	272
St. Oliver's Park Pre-School Clondalkin	50	37
St. Joseph's National School Boot Road	23	22
Scoil Aine Presentation Convent Clondalkin	60	38
Scoil Mhuire Convent Road	21	19
St. Bernadette's Junior Sch. Quarryvale	355	308

The food provided in these cases is a third of a pint of milk, a sandwich and currant bun/muffin.

Table 2 – Schools participating in the Schools Meals

Community Programme.

The Get Ahead Club provides breakfast in seven schools to 48 children per week and 64 children are provided with a light meal twice a week.

School Name	Address
St. Peter Apostle Junior School	Neilstown
St. Peter Apostle Senior School	Neilstown
Archbishop Ryan National School	Balygaddy
St. Bernadette's Junior School	Quarryvale
St. Bernadette's Senior School	Quarryvale
St. Mary's Junior School	Rowlagh
St. Mary's Senior School	Rowlagh

Clondalkin Area Response to Absenteeism (CARA) Project provides breakfast to 72 children, a light meal to 36 children and dinner to 36 children twice a week in the primary schools. In the secondary schools breakfast is provided to 72 children twice a week, while a light meal, a dinner and a snack are provided to 72 children once a week.

School Name	Address
Archbishop Ryan National School	Balgaddy
Saint Bernadette's Senior National School	Quarryvale
Saint Peter Apostle Senior National School	Neilstown
Saint Mary's Senior National School	Rowlagh
Saint Ronan's National School	Deansrath
Scoil Talbot Senior National School	Bawnogue
Collinstown Park Community College	Collinstown
Deansrath Community College	Deansrath
Saint Kevin's Community College	Clondalkin