Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 November 2025
708. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the schools across County Louth that operated a breakfast club for the academic school year 2024-2025 ; and the number of children in each school who received meals through each breakfast club, in tabular form. [63041/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra710. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools in County Louth that have applied for the school meals scheme to date in the current academic school year 2025-2026. [63043/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 708 and 710 together.
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 Budget 2025 announcement all primary schools are now eligible for the Hot School Meals Scheme, meaning that approximately 3,700 schools and organisations and 682,000 children are now be eligible for the School Meals Programme.
It is important to note that the 2025/2026 academic school year started a few weeks ago and applications continue to be received and processed. The table below gives the current position of the Louth schools for 2024/25 and 2025/26 to date.
|
School Year |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
|
Schools Receiving Breakfast Club |
25 |
10 |
|
Pupils benefitting |
7,918 |
2,783 |
|
Schools receiving School Meals |
64 |
35 |
|
Pupils benefitting |
17,562 |
8,358 |
SCHOOLS IN COUNTY LOUTH RECEIVING BREAKFAST CLUB AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN EACH SCHOOL FOR 2024/25
|
School |
Breakfast Club |
|
Ardee Community School |
370 |
|
Bush Post Primary School |
800 |
|
Castletown Rd Convent |
188 |
|
Coláiste Chú Chulainn |
830 |
|
De La Salle College |
741 |
|
Gaelscoil Dhun Dealgan |
212 |
|
Little Partners Creche |
49 |
|
Ó Fiaich College |
289 |
|
Our Lady'S College |
200 |
|
Rathmullan N S |
95 |
|
S N An Tslanaitheora B |
153 |
|
S N An Tslanaitheora C |
136 |
|
S N Naomh Lorcan |
80 |
|
S N San Nioclas |
159 |
|
Scoil Na Mbraithre Sn |
316 |
|
Scoil Oilibhéir Naofa |
365 |
|
Scoil Ui Mhuiri |
661 |
|
St Brighids Special Sch |
93 |
|
St Brigid'S And St Patrick'S National School |
554 |
|
St Louis Secondary School |
492 |
|
St Nicholas Monastery Ns |
154 |
|
St Oliver'S Community College |
600 |
|
St Pauls Senior Ns |
330 |
|
Stepping Stones Community Creche |
22 |
|
Togher Community Project Group Ltd |
29 |
|
Grand Total |
7918 |
I trust this clarifies the matter.
