Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 April 2017
174. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the detail of the current provision of free school meals programmes nationally; the cost of providing this; the cost of extending free school meals programmes to full coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17250/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,460 schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of some €47.7 million in 2017. The funding for the scheme was increased this year, as part of Budget 2017, by an additional €5.7 million (almost 14% over the previous year’s allocation) which will benefit over 50,000 children. For the current academic year, 2016/2017, some €44 million has been allocated to schools under the scheme.
In recent years priority for new applications for funding had been given to schools which are part of the DEIS programme. From September 2016 additional funding is being provided to DEIS schools already participating in the scheme to provide breakfast and lunch to the majority of pupils. A further 21 DEIS schools have joined the scheme this academic year.
Budget 2017 funding also provides for the inclusion in the scheme, from September 2017, of up to 245 new schools and 47,000 children. This includes support to schools being brought into DEIS for the first time and the extension of the scheme to breakfast clubs in non-DEIS schools, which is the first time in many years that increased payments will be provided outside of DEIS. Priority will be provided to schools where there is most need and officials in my Department have recently contacted these schools inviting them to join the scheme.
To provide a breakfast to every pupil in the country to all of the almost 4,000 schools, at primary and secondary level, would cost an additional €86 million in a full year. In line with all schemes administered by my Department, any further extension of the school meals scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
