Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tá an tAire Coimirce Sóisialaí, Heather Humphreys, ag déanamh athbhreithnithe ar chlár na mbéilí scoile. Tá an scéim an-tábhachtach do pháistí agus dá gcuid tuismitheoirí i scoileanna DEIS. Beidh an scéim seo ag tosnú i chuid de na scoileanna nach bhfuil páirteach i DEIS san fhómhar. Ní raibh aon ardú ar na rátaí ó 2003 ach tá méadú suntasach tagtha ar na costasaí do bhéilí a ullmhú ón am sin. Iarraim ar an gCeannaire scríobh arís chuig an Aire, an Teachta Humphreys, ag impí uirthi na rátaí a ardú. Tá na comhlachtaí ag fágáil na scéime seo mar nach bhfuil siad in ann béilí a chur ar fáil ar na praghsanna atá ceadaithe.

The hot school meals has been a wonderful Government initiative over the years and has provided much-needed food and meals in schools, predominantly DEIS schools, for some time. We know the importance of nutrition for children and young people focusing in school and performing at their best. Budget 2023 provided €94.4 million for the hot school meals programme and the Government has recently approved an additional €14.5 million to allow access to the programme for all remaining DEIS schools from September 2023. I know the Minister is carrying out a review and evaluation of the hot school meals programme and hopefully a decision will be announced soon. I ask the Leader to write to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, to ask her to expedite that review and provide an update on the possibility of increasing the rates for the hot school meals programme, which have not changed since 2003. The costs of preparing and providing nutritious meals have increased. The standards are the same in terms of the need to provide quality and nutritious meals but the costs have increased and companies are not bothering to tender for the provision of hot school meals as a result. The Government is investing in rolling out the programme but companies are not tendering to provide meals. I ask the Leader to contact the Minister in this regard.