Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It will be very interesting to see the response in tabular form. Deputy O'Connor sends his apologies. He has an interest in the towns of Youghal, Killeagh and Castlemartyr and in east Cork in general.

I taught in Fermoy for 12 years in a school with DEIS status. I can safely say that a large proportion of the students who attended probably got their only healthy meal when they came to school. We ran a programme for many years in the school. Staff and management of the school would tell you the meals were the only nutritious ones that many of the children got. It was great to see the programme enhanced and progressed. I would love to see it in every school. The Minister mentioned that it will be possible for schools that missed out last year to apply this year. If there is any appeals process or way of getting in at this late stage for April's allocation, the Minister might inform us.

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