Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the disappointment and frustration for the new DEIS schools that are keen to access the school meals programme. The level of interest in the programme is a clear sign of the need for its expansion and that is something we are committed to doing. I have had contact from schools that did not make the new DEIS allocations this year. That is the next group in line because there are quite a number of them. Some people felt the decision was arbitrary but there is an appeals system in place and maybe some more schools will be included in due course and be able to avail of the school meals programme.

The hot school meals programme has gone from a pilot with 37 schools in 2019 to 284 schools now covering 54,000 children availing of a hot meal as part of their school day. The significant extensions of the programme over a number of successive budgets outline our commitment to extending the provisions of hot school meals and building on what has been achieved to date. In this regard, the Minister for Social Protection has commissioned an evaluation of the school meals programme to be undertaken in 2022 to inform future policy direction and decisions on the scheme. What the Deputy has spoken about is a more short-term issue with regard to schools getting their meals provision as new entrants into the DEIS programme. This evaluation will assess all aspects of the provision of school meals and will engage with all stakeholders. The evaluation is due for completion in November 2022. I am conscious that will be after the budget. The Deputy is asking about budget measures in the meantime. The provision of the school meals programme will be considered as part of the budgetary process for 2023 and all options for the possible inclusion of schools will be explored. I am not making any commitment but the budget focus this year will be on cost-of-living issues and this is a cost-of-living issue. Historically, we make announcements on budget day but sometimes they do not come into effect until January or later the following year. This issue should be put on the agenda for consideration for earlier implementation.

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