Mr. Niall Egan:

We can look at previous years. I cannot predict the future but I note that point, as well as claim rejections and other issues raised today about the need for awareness campaigns. We will also take those suggestions on board.

We know the number of children receiving school meals. Currently, 260,000 children are in receipt of school meals and 65,000 children receive hot school meals across 1,600 schools. An expansion to approximately 9,000 schools was announced as part of the budget last year to cover a predicted 150,000 children. We hope that will be reached by the end of the year but it is subject to take-up. The question about the effectiveness is a question for a review. We did a review of school meals in the recent past but those types of questions need time and detailed research to be undertaken. I am not sure we will be able to replicate that in the PSPR on an annual basis.