Paul Murphy
Question:14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expand the free school meals programme to preschools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25411/24]
View answerTuesday, 11 June 2024
Questions (14)
Written answers
The 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.
Funding under the School Meals Programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided.
Entry to the School Meals Programme had historically been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified by the Department of Education as having levels of concentrated disadvantage meaning that their students would benefit from access to the 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's initiatives for disadvantaged schools were eligible to participate in the programme.
Currently some 190 pre-schools/childcare centres receive funding from the Department under the School Meals Programme.
The Early Years Services Regulations state that Early Learning and Care Services must ensure that all children in attendance receive a nutritious diet that takes account of individual needs and preferences. Under these regulations, Early Learning and Care Services are required to develop a Policy on Healthy Eating. The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate inspects the policy using these regulations and requirements.
I understand that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth recently launched their new Equal Start model to address disadvantage, which includes a commitment to future funding for additional meals in approximately 800 priority Early Learning and Care settings to help address food poverty.
Any further steps regarding the meal programme for pre-schools is a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.