Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This morning the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is making an announcement about hot school meals. This is great news. We know the impact of having hot school meals in our schools. The scheme has been rolled out from around 30 schools a few years ago to almost 500 schools today. Based on an independent report into the hot school meals programme, the Minister is now looking to expand the hot school meals programme to all DEIS primary schools from September. She is also looking at how to increase the rates for providers of hot school meals. This is crucial because we know that this can be a little bit of a challenge and a barrier. The Minister has spoken often about the importance of what a hot school meal means for children. She has talked to us often about it. The Leader of the House will know very well the importance of this for children regarding their focus and attention within schools. This programme shows that the Government and Fine Gael are committed to children's welfare and to ensuring we support children from their earliest stages. Currently there are nearly 1,600 schools and 260,000 children involved in the scheme and this is going to be expanded again in September. I welcome the announcement. We have a number of DEIS schools in Roscommon and Galway. Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí in Athlone implemented this after the announcement a few months ago. It is one of a number of schools that will be looking to offer this programme to children. It is an announcement to be welcomed.