Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 April 2018
1473. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing expenditure on the school meals programme by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16480/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding towards school meals is being provided in over 1,580 schools and other organisations, supporting over 248,000 children at a cost of some €54 million in 2018, representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Based on the 2018 budgetary allocation of €54 million, the estimated cost of increasing expenditure on the school meals programme by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% is provided in the tabular statement. Changes to increase the funding of any scheme administered by my Department would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
Tabular Statement: Additional annual costs of expanding the school meals programme
|
Increase in expenditure |
Additional annual cost |
|
5% |
€2.7m |
|
10% |
€5.4m |
|
15% |
€8.1m |
|
20% |
€10.8m |
