Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 103: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has guidelines on the provision of food vending machines on school premises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39567/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Schools are privately managed institutions which, although funded by the State, enjoy a large degree of autonomy. It is, therefore, primarily a matter for each school to devise guidelines on the types of food that are available on the school premises and such policies should be driven by the needs and welfare of the pupils. I know that many schools have developed healthy eating policies in co-operation with their parents' associations and I encourage others to do so.