Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Government and the Houses need to have a broader discussion on the breadth of provision of the hot school meals programme. I agree completely with the Chair that having it run by the Department of Social Protection is an odd fit.

I have a follow-up question regarding the capital programme and new school builds and rebuilds. Does the Department of Education actively engage, directly or via patrons, in operating any form of building control inspections during the building or redevelopment of schools, or is that matter delegated to local authorities? Is there a form of project management whereby officials from the Department are on site at school building projects?