Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
43. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the hot school meals programme to a school (details supplied) on a permanent basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18268/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding.The Hot School Meal option of the Programme was introduced in 2019 and is currently only available in primary schools.Ennistymon Vocational School, which was a DEIS secondary school, amalgamated with two non-DEIS secondary schools – Meanscoil na mBráithre and Scoil Mhuire – to form Ennistymon Community School at the end of August 2023. The new amalgamated school was designated with non-DEIS status by the Department of Education.In line with Department of Education policy, the pupils from the former DEIS school holds its DEIS supports, including school meals funding, for a period of 6 years until the pupils from the former DEIS school have transitioned out. In other words, the students who had been in the DEIS school before the amalgamation can retain their entitlement to school meals until they have completed secondary school.It is important to say that Meanscoil na mBráithre and Scoil Mhuire had not been in the School Meals Programme prior to the amalgamation. Considering the circumstances which have arisen at this school, which is in no way the fault of the pupils, I have instructed my officials to continue funding for school meals for all students until the end of the school year. This will allow time for officials from my Department and the Department of Education to engage with the Principal and the Board of Management of Ennistymon Community School on these matters.I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
