Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 105: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the school lunch programme to which every child here is entitled; if she will consider allowing each school to make its own arrangements for the management and purchase of school lunches; her views that there could be considerable savings to the State and less waste in the schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19197/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The school meals programme provides funding towards provision of food services for disadvantaged school children through two schemes. No scheme exists which provides school lunches for all pupils in the State. The first scheme is the statutory urban school meals scheme for primary schools which is operated by local authorities and part-financed by this Department. The role of this Department is confined to reimbursing local authorities and approving participation in the scheme. The second scheme is the non-statutory school meals local projects scheme which provides funding directly from this Department to primary schools, secondary schools and local groups and voluntary organisations which operate their own school meals projects.

Projects must be targeted at areas of disadvantage or at children with special needs. Priority for funding is currently given to schools which are part of the Department of Education & Skills' initiative for disadvantaged schools, 'Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools' (DEIS). However, there is no automatic entitlement to funding and all applications are considered in light of the available budget for the Scheme.

Funding under this scheme is for food only, which must be of suitable quality and nutritional value, and prepared and consumed in an appropriate environment. Funding is provided for a range of meal types, including breakfasts, snacks, lunches and dinners. Maximum rates of payments apply for each meal type. The type and range of meals provided, as well as the method and logistics of supplying the meals, are decided by the individual local groups and schools that operate the projects. Schools and projects are obliged to ensure that wastage is minimised and that food is not purchased for absentee children.