Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 April 2021
676. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children participating in the school meals programme; and the number of children participating in the hot meals programme. [22166/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,557 schools and organisations benefitting 227,000 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.
As part of Budget 2019, funding was provided for a pilot scheme from September 2019, providing hot school meals in primary schools at a cost of €1m for 2019 and €2.5m in 2020. The pilot involved 37 schools benefitting 6,744 students for the 2019/2020 academic year and was aimed primarily at schools with no onsite cooking facilities. 32 schools involved in the pilot continue to provide hot school meals for the 2020/2021 academic year. Three of the pilot schools have reverted to a cold lunch and two have left the scheme.
In Budget 2021, I announced that an additional €5.5m would be provided to extend the provision of hot school meals to an additional 35,000 primary school children, currently receiving the cold lunch option. 189 schools have been selected and officials from my department are currently engaging with these schools to commence the provision of hot school meals.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
