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School Meals Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Ceisteanna (1060, 1153)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

1060. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will extend the school lunch programme until the end of August 2020; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9125/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

1153. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the operation of the school meals programme during school closures as a result of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9633/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1060 and 1153 together.

The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,580 schools and organisations benefitting 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 12 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.

I trust that this clarifies the position.

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