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.
Under the School Meals Programme, the primary relationship is between the school and supplier. My department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school and it is the responsibility of each school board to administer the Programme in their school. School Meals Contracts are between the suppliers and the schools.
The funding to schools for the School Meals Programme is entirely separate to the Department of Education capitation funding which covers the day to day running costs of a school and teaching resources.
A routine School Meals inspection by Department officials was the catalyst for identifying the overcharging issue by this company. My Department has always advised schools that they must ensure that they reconcile the supplier invoices against school attendance and school meal use.
Refunds commenced on the 27th February 2025 from the company to the individual schools concerned. Each School was refunded in a lump sum. My Department subsequently recouped this funding from the schools. €720,092.40 has been paid in full. Four schools have an outstanding debt amounting to €35,674.10 which are actively being recovered by my officials. It is expected this will be concluded in full in the coming weeks.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
