Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Táim anseo i dTeach Laighean. I welcome the Minister and the Minister of State. I realise that the times have been tough for both of them, but with the return to schools and the leaving certificate situation being resolved there is much to be grateful for. I thank both of them for the work they have done.

The Minister and Minister of State will have received the joint committee report on the impact of Covid-19 in primary and post-primary schools. I have a question for the Minister relating to hot school meals. I have spoken about this in the past. I was a teacher like her and we acknowledge that disadvantage is in all towns and communities and in most, if not all, schools. I welcome the fact that the hot meals programme and the funding for it were maintained throughout the crisis, as well as the work many schools did in providing food parcels to students who were in need. Is it the intention of the Department to expand that programme in the future? I believe there is merit in expanding it whereby it would be available to all students in all schools. Will the Minister make a quick comment on that?