Written answers

Thursday, 8 May 2008

Department of Education and Science

School Services

5:00 pm

Photo of Andrew DoyleAndrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 452: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has entered into commercial or other agreement with suppliers to permit vending machines in schools. [17836/08]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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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 around the types of food that is 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 would encourage others to do so also.

In relation to schools/colleges provided under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model my Department has to date entered into three separate contracts. The three contracts cover the five Pilot PPP Schools, the National Maritime College and the Cork School of Music. In the contracts agreed for the five Pilot Schools while the Operator is responsible for the vending machines the location, content and availability of vending machines were agreed through discussion between the Operator and the School Authorities concerned. The contract stipulate that, if catering and/or vending is provided, the PPP Operator must pay a guaranteed income to the authority regardless of the level of net income received from these services.

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