Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
909. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the school meals programme into the summer holiday months will be extended in order that families that have lost jobs or are temporarily laid off as a result of the public health emergency can continue to access food during these exceptional times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7146/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra919. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider providing the school meals programme currently distributed to homes as a result of Covid-19 through the summer months of 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7929/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 909 and 919 together.
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefiting 250,000 children. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement and coincides with the school year.
Following the announcement of the closure of schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic, by the Taoiseach on 12th March 2020, schools and organisations participating in the school meals programme expressed concerns about the impact of school closures on pupils who avail of school meals, and that the unavailability of school meals impacts in particular on the most disadvantaged in our society.
My Department confirmed that funding to schools would continue to enable schools provide food until the end of the current school year - the end of May for post-primary schools and the end of June for primary schools, in line with the parameters of the school meals scheme.
Any proposals to extend funding for food provision beyond these dates would need to be considered in the overall budgetary context.
