Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will comment on the process for selecting those schools. We increased the budget considerably because the pilot scheme involved 37 schools. This year we brought the number up to 189. Those schools were picked on a random basis by the computer. There is one situation in particular where there are four schools in one campus. Three are getting the hot school meals and one is not. Those involved are not happy and I can understand why. If I had picked them myself, some would have said I had hand-picked them, and I do not know what they might have thought I was trying to do. A computer picked them this time. We have to blame the computer. The computer looks at roll numbers but does not really know the situation. What can I say? I am looking at it carefully.

I am fond of hot school meals. Schools that put in applications and that want to do this and engage in it deserve to be supported. A total of 281 schools submitted expressions of interest. Some may not go ahead. The Deputy should leave it with me. I am engaging with my officials. I am a big supporter of the scheme. It is a really good scheme. I love to see a child getting a good hot dinner. Maybe that is the mother in me. Anyway, I will say no more for now but I would urge the Deputy to leave it with me.