Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
711. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department intends to contact schools that do not apply for the extended school meals scheme in the current academic school year to determine the reasons they have not applied. [63044/25]
View answerThe School Meals Programme is not mandatory for schools. The decision to apply lies with the school principal and board of management. There were some 300 schools who had not expressed an interest to join the programme at the end of the 2024/2025 academic year. My officials have engaged with these schools to ascertain the reasons why. The main reason given was due to a lack of demand from parents for the programme.
As this is the first academic year that all primary schools will be eligible for the Hot School Meals Programme, and applications continue to currently be received, a full analysis will be conducted in Q1 2026.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
