Pearse Doherty
Ceist:210. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to provide every primary school child in the State with a free lunch meal. [42897/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraDáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
210. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to provide every primary school child in the State with a free lunch meal. [42897/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpenditure on the provision of school meals which is funded by the School Meals Programme, administered by my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection was €34.97 million in 2011 with €35 million provided for 2012. The estimated cost of providing a daily lunch meal for the 516,460 children currently attending primary school is €285 million per annum (based on an estimate of €3 per meal).