Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to bring the Minister back to the hot school meals programme. It is a progressive initiative introduced by the Department of Social Protection this year. As I understand it, 281 applications were made of which 189 were successful. There was some disappointment. In County Clare we had four successful applications. They were welcome. I am concerned about schools that have lost out. I know from correspondence I have had with the Minister directly that she will look at the matter again once she has confirmed the position on successful schools. When will the Department be in a position to do that? If some successful schools do not take up the scheme, can others schools that were not successful aspire to get into the scheme this year? Will the Minister outline a pathway for those schools to get back into the programme?