Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the reply on behalf of the Department. I welcome the fact that the Department is looking at the rates and that decisions will be made by the end of the year, but I am afraid that that will be too late. As I said, there are currently schools not receiving tenders to provide school meals. I am gravely concerned that there is no fast-tracking of the issue of rates of pay for the meals. It is a concern. As I said, I welcome the fact that there is a review due to be completed by the end of the year, but I am concerned that a solution will not be provided for children in DEIS schools between now and Christmas and that those schools will be left stranded.

Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil an Roinn ag déanamh athbhreithnithe ar scéim na mbéilí scoile faoi láthair. Tá an scéim seo fíorthábhachtach do scoileanna DEIS ach ní raibh aon mhéadú ar na rátaí a íocann an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí do na béilí le deich mbliana anuas. Tá scoileanna anois faoi bhrú ó thaobh tairiscintí a fháil ó chomhlachtaí chun na béilí a chur ar fáil. Luaigh mé an t-ábhar seo leis an gCeannaire ar an Ord Gnó le déanaí. Cuirim fáilte roimh an ráiteas ón Aire Stáit ach teastaíonn brú ar an Roinn chun an t-athbhreithniú seo a chríochnú agus méadú a dhéanamh ar na rátaí.

We really need to expedite the completion of the review such that it is done by the end of the year or, if possible, by early next month, with a review of the rates to allow companies to provide realistic tenders for the provision of school meals.