Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
786. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending the school meals programme to each primary and secondary school that does not offer the programme; the number of schools that would be involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22593/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
According to information contained on the Department of Educations and Skills website there are 3,240 primary schools and 723 secondary schools with a combined enrolment of 939,166 students (567,716 in primary schools and 371,450 in secondary schools).
There are 2,290 primary schools with a total enrolment of 406,713 students and 447 post primary schools with a total enrolment of 251,833 students that do not benefit from the scheme. If a breakfast/snack at 60c per child, per day, and a lunch at €1.40 per child, per day, to all students in these schools, it would cost approximately €229m (€146m for primary schools and €83m for secondary schools) for a full school year.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
