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

I support absolutely the hot school meals programme. The Deputy mentioned the quality. We have a committee that monitors and checks the quality. We make sure the children receive good, healthy food and schools must reapply for funding in advance of each school year. They are required to submit detailed records. Expenditure on all healthy food items is deducted from the following year’s funding allocation. The most important thing is good quality and good food.

When I went to a boys' primary school in Artane to announce the expansion of the school meals programme, I was impressed to see that the school meals given to the kids are hot because they come in a foil container. The schools do not need to worry about heating it up. This programme is a wonderful equaliser. Every one of those children sat down to eat their meals, having chosen their menu from the previous week. There were ten different options for them to choose from. Each day could be different. They all turned their desks around, sat around the table and had a conversation as they ate their hot dinner. It would do your heart good to see it. The teachers could not praise it enough. They said the difference it makes to the child's educational attainment is game changing. I have committed to doing this and to moving it on as quickly as I can.

See this speech in context