Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am committed to the school meals programme, so much so that we have increased the hot school meals programme from a pilot of 37 schools to almost 300. This is a good thing. During the 2020-21 academic year, 804 DEIS schools participated in the school meals programme, benefiting 148,594 children. Those 804 schools represented 91% of the 887 DEIS schools in the country.

The Deputy asked about the criteria. All 3,239 primary schools were issued an invitation to submit an expression of interest about participating in the pilot. The school had to identify a supplier that would supply, prepare and deliver the hot meals in line with food safety regulations and in compliance with Healthy Ireland's nutrition standards for school meals. The schools chosen to participate in the pilot were selected randomly, having regard to geographical spread, numbers enrolled, the range of suppliers and the programme's overall budget.

I have continued to increase the programme every year. The number of children getting hot school meals continues to increase.

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