Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure how the Minister got the impression that I was advocating for bottles of water to be supplied free of charge. I was referring to accessible and clean drinking water. The Minister may be able to fill a glass of water at her kitchen sink but students at school do not have access to kitchen sinks. If fresh water drinking points are not available, the only way the students can get water is by filling up their bottles in the bathrooms. I do not think that is acceptable. The survey by the Irish Heart Foundation found that 40% of schools do not have clean drinking water points. Wide-ranging policies are not sufficient when we need clear strategies and standards for the provision of healthy food in secondary schools. Will the Minister commit to putting in place a national catering standard for secondary schools and to banning vending machines in secondary schools? They are not available in primary schools for the good reason they encourage the consumption of junk food. They should not be available in secondary schools either.

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