Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 September 2026
373. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection if a school (details supplied) can qualify for funding to support the provision of a breakfast club in the school which is currently provided using funds from an organisation (details supplied). [67696/26]
View answer374. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding funding for breakfast clubs for non DEIS schools; and if there is a scheme for schools in this position to apply for. [67695/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 373 and 374 together.
The Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) programme aims to reduce educational disadvantage and is a Department of Education and Youth policy. That department is responsible for decisions regarding DEIS status. All DEIS secondary schools have access to a meal at lunch time.
The Department of Education and Youth has classified Rockfort Manor Secondary School as a non-DEIS Secondary School and therefore it has no entitlement to a breakfast club funding under the School Meals Programme, nor has it ever received breakfast club funding.
Any expansion of the breakfast clubs to non DEIS Secondary Schools would have to be considered in a Budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
