James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I again thank the Senator for raising this matter and for the constructive engagement. As I outlined, budget 2022 provided €68.1 million for a programme, with an additional €9 million provided to allow access to all new DEIS schools from September 2022. Additional funding for the programme has been provided for 2023, bringing the total to €91.6 million, which represents a 49% funding increase in the period since 2020.

The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has commissioned an evaluation of the school meals programme and all its elements, including the funding that is being provided for the various meal options. The evaluation has involved close consultation with all stakeholders. Workshops and interviews are being conducted with teachers, principals and children, as well as suppliers. Key issues to be explored as part of the evaluation include whether the schools meals programme is meeting its aims, the practicalities for schools in moving to a hot school meal option, what works well and does not, how the programme can be better delivered, the extent to which the school meals programme has improved school attendance and educational achievement, how the scheme compares with programmes in other countries, the implications of extending the scheme and the implications of the European child guarantee for schools meals programme. The final report is due to be completed by the end of the year and will help to inform future decisions around this important programme. The Minister is committed to growing the school meals programme further and issues regarding the funding of it will be considered in the context of this evaluation. I again thank the Senator for raising this matter and for a constructive engagement.