Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
408. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether food quality, taste assessment, nutritional presentation, or food sampling are formally weighted or scored within the current Hot School Meals tender evaluation framework; and if he will provide details of any mandatory assessment requirements. [36302/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra409. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether his Department has undertaken any review of whether the current Hot School Meals procurement framework adequately assesses actual food quality delivered to children as distinct from written tender documentation. [36303/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 409 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.
Clear nutritional standards have been in place for the School Meals Programme since its inception. A specific standard was set for School Meals under the Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. A technical Nutrition Subgroup comprised of Dietitians from the following organisations was involved in developing these standards:
* The Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland,
* The HSE,
* Safefood, and
* The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
These standards are available to all schools, organisations and suppliers and are publicly available on gov.ie.
Taste assessment, or food sampling is not part of the marking of tender evaluations. Food preferences vary from person to person therefore schools follow the programme’s Nutritional Standards, developed by expert dietitians ensures consistency, quality, and appropriate nutritional balance.
My Department has seconded a CORU-registered dietician for the School Meals Programme who is under the clinical supervision of the Department of Health. One of the main tasks is an in-depth review of school meal supplier menus and their compliance with the nutritional standards. The review by a CORU-registered Dietitian is underway. As part of this review site visits to both schools and suppliers are being conducted in addition to analysis of supplier menus. It is expected that the full report will be finalised at the end of June 2026.
