Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020
403. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing grant funding under the school meals programme for a school (details supplied) that caters for children with mild to moderate learning disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31250/20]
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 programme 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.
In recent years entry to the school meals programme has been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified as having levels of concentrated disadvantage that would benefit from access to the school meals programme.
Prior to the introduction of DEIS in 2005, all schools and organisations that were part of one of a number of Department of Education and Skills’ initiatives for disadvantaged schools were eligible to participate in the programme, which included Breaking the Cycle, Giving Children an Even Break, the Disadvantaged Area Scheme, Home School Community Liaison and the School Completion Programme. These schools and organisations, including some special schools have continued to remain in the scheme but their funding is capped at the same level every year.
The school referred to by the Deputy is in the schools meals programme. This school is not designated DEIS status and the funding level for the school is capped. In 2019/2020, the school made an application to provide breakfast for 35 children and received funding of €2,000. An increase in the level of funding under the school meals programme for the school cannot be considered at this time.
I trust this clarifies the position.
