Mr. Mike Neary:

There were many comments about the role of parents in these programmes which is a crucial part of this. I must give a shout out for parent associations in some schools which get involved in the Food Dudes programme and give out the produce. It means it is more effective than the school itself. As part of our new strategy over the next six years, we have pilot programmes for the school year 2017-2018, which will include engaging with stakeholders, like parents, to get closer links with them. Once it goes outside the school, parenting is critical to its success.

From 1 August this year, 100% of the funding for the produce in the scheme will come from the European Union through the EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme. That allows us a bigger opportunity to spread this scheme wider and involve more schools and children. It will allow us to promote physical activity, as well as targeting the programme at senior as well as junior classes. Thankfully, the funding issue is not the challenge but actually getting it out to as many schools as possible.