Ms Rita Sexton:

I will start with the questions which arose on access to fresh drinking water in schools and on the issue of vending machines. All new-build schools have fresh drinking water as standard. If other schools have any concerns around the quality of their water, they can have it tested. The policy is that all schools will have, and should have, fresh drinking water for students.

In respect of the vending machine issue, I will share some findings with the committee from the Department's life skills survey 2015. In terms of vending machines in primary schools, there is really no issue because 99% of the schools surveyed said they had no vending machines on their premises. In terms of post-primary schools, Senator Gallagher mentioned that vending machines are a source of revenue for post-primary schools. The findings do show some improvements, however. Some 27% of post-primary schools surveyed said they had vending machines in place. In 2009, some 35% had vending machines in place. A high number of those schools also sell fresh fruit in the school. The Department has issued guidance to schools through circulars on healthy lifestyles for both primary and post-primary schools. We ask that, where possible, schools minimise the sale of fizzy drinks and unhealthy snacks.