School Meals Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 October 2024

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Tuesday, 1 October 2024

Questions (292, 293, 294, 295)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

292. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of expanding the hot school meals programme to include 100 more primary and post-primary schools. [38627/24]

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

293. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing hot school meals to 100 primary and post-primary schools, who are already in receipt of the cold school meals programme. [38628/24]

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

294. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools that are presently in receipt of the cold school meals programme; and the amount of funding allocated to this. [38629/24]

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

295. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools that are presently in receipt of the hot school meals programme; and the amount of funding allocated to this. [38630/24]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 292, 293, 294 and 295 together.

The Hot School Meals Programme has grown from a small pilot project to a nationwide programme now approved in 2,200 primary schools nationwide. Post Primary schools are not currently eligible for hot school meals, but some DEIS Post Primary schools can avail of the dinner rate of €2.50. The dinner provides a hot meal, but is different from the hot school meal, in that they tend to be provided by schools with onsite cooking facilities whereas food for hot school meals is prepared offsite and either delivered hot or reheated in the school.

The estimated cost of expanding the hot school meals programme to include 100 more primary schools is €11.9m.

In April 2024, my Department contacted the remaining 1,000 primary schools who have not yet joined the Hot School Meals scheme, asking them if they wished to submit an expression of interest in commencing the provision of Hot School Meals.

As announced in Budget 2025, the Hot School Meals Scheme will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025. This announcement now means that in total, 3,200 schools and 550,000 children are now eligible for the Hot School Meals Scheme in 2025. The expansion of the Hot School Meals Scheme will increase the School Meals budget by just over €72m to an overall budget of €288m.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Question No. 293 answered with Question No. 292.

Question No. 294 answered with Question No. 292.

Question No. 295 answered with Question No. 292.

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