Ms Sinéad Keenan:

I will address the Chairman's query on inequality. We see food poverty as a multi-dimensional issue with a number of factors. Affordability is the primary issue as Ireland has some of the highest food costs in Europe. The cumulative effect of austerity budgets has made it harder for families on a low income to put healthy food on the table for their children. We have heard stories from parents who say they try to pack their children full of calories because they do not want them to go hungry. Unfortunately the cheaper foods are higher in fat, sugar and salt. Where one lives in terms of proximity to supermarkets and shops also has a bearing on food poverty, as have other factors, such as dependence upon transport, the type of food being promoted in the area, housing conditions for food storage and cooking equipment. Confidence and motivation are also factors. A point was made about redistribution and infrastructure and the school meals programme is a real example of an opportunity to focus on service provision to give equal access to services. That is the real opportunity and benefit of the school meals programmes; it delivers equal access to all children.

With regard to the companies who provide the service, economy of scale is an issue but the question must be asked about the strategic focus. Is it appropriate to have a company in Limerick providing food to a school in Donegal? A strategic policy debate around this could ask if it is better to support local food provision and local food economies. It has certainly worked well with community employment schemes. Links could be made with local community resources for a joined-up approach.