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

The Minister of State and I are fully committed to the school meals programme. The evaluation is being carried out, and if it recommends an increase in the rates, I will fully support that. If we are going to give children a good, hot dinner in the middle of the day - nothing can beat that - my aim, and I am sure that of the Deputy, is that every child in this country, regardless of his or her socioeconomic background, should get that hot school meal. It makes such a difference.

I am happy to examine the rates but I will have to wait for the outcome of the evaluation programme. I have heard a number of the suppliers say they cannot provide the meals at the rate they are getting, but the process is at an advanced stage and I want to await the outcome.

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