New programme to provide hot school meals to over 35,000 primary students

Pupils in more primary schools will benefit from hot school meals under an extended programme being rolled out from today.

A further 35,000 pupils in 189 schools, mainly in the DEIS scheme for disadvantaged communities, will be able to avail of a hot lunch.

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan, Monaghan and North Meath, Niamh Smyth, has welcomed the inclusion of seven schools across the constituency in the Hot School Meals Programme for 2021.

An additional €5.5 million was secured, as part of Budget 2021, for the extension of the Hot School Meals Programme to primary school pupils who had been availing of the cold lunch only.

Following expressions of interest and a selection process, 189 schools, including 171 DEIS schools, have been chosen.

The hot meals will be available to all pupils enrolled in the 189 primary schools, which do not have canteen/kitchen facilities on site and will replace the cold lunch which has been in place to date.

Commenting Deputy Smyth said, “Our school children have shown extraordinary resilience over the past 12 months amid huge disruption caused to their lives by Covid-19.

“The Hot School Meals Programme is an important initiative in terms of a child’s wellbeing and nutrition. It is also known to facilitate better education outcomes and today’s announcement will be of great relief to many parents and low-income families that are struggling during this time.

“I very much welcome the news that funding will continue during the upcoming Easter holidays. Ensuring funding for the School Meals Programme, across both the school terms and holiday periods, offers a security for children who rely on this important support,” she concluded.