Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 374: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the current economic downturn is directly impacting on many more children going to school hungry; and her plans to address this issue through additional supports including the further roll out of breakfast clubs and the introduction of a food element to out of hours homework clubs. [14471/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The majority of schools include among their pupils, children with disadvantaged backgrounds. In general most schools address the individual needs of these children without recourse to supplementary targeted resources. There is significant evidence from research, both in Ireland and elsewhere, that disadvantage associated with poverty assumes a multiplier effect and are exacerbated when large proportions of pupils in a school are from poor backgrounds (a 'social context' effect).

Schools and school clusters/communities are allocated supplementary resources and supports in accordance with their level of concentration of disadvantage under the Department of Education and Skills' Schools Support Programme under DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion. The National Educational Welfare Board with responsibility for the School Completion Programme and Home School Community Liaison, which are major components of DEIS transferred to my Department with effect from 2 June 2011.

The majority of the 692 schools currently participating in the School Completion Programme (SCP) operate meal provision as part of after school clubs and homework clubs. These measures are considered to be key elements of the supports provided by 124 School Completion Programme projects throughout Ireland.

In addition to funding provided through the School Completion Programme, the provision of school meals is primarily funded by the School Meals Programme, administered by my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection which is strictly for food items only. The School Meals Programme aims to supplement the nutritional intake of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to allow them to fulfil their potential within the educational system and also to reduce the risk of early school leaving. In 2010, expenditure by the Department of Social Protection on the School Meals Programme was €30.96m and the budget allocation for 2011 is €35m.

Educational research has shown that good nutrition improves concentration levels of students and that students from low-income families are less likely to have access to an adequate diet. Providing nutritional meals for the most marginalised children and young people is a core function of breakfast and most homework clubs under SCP, however, the social aspect of such clubs cannot be overestimated.

After school supports provided under the School Completion Programme focus on the personal and social development of children and young people, which aim to enrich their overall educational experience by providing fun activities that tap into their many talents. Programmes that focus on activities like Drama, Music, Art, Craftwork and Sport enable children and young people to develop a range of creative and sporting skills. These activities help to boost self-esteem, have positive consequences for the classroom and are particularly important for academically weaker students. Parents are also encouraged to become involved to help out in homework clubs.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to increasing numbers of after school support programme students presenting at classes hungry as a direct result of the present economic crisis and the additional supports she will offer in this difficult environment for teaching. [19151/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The majority of schools include among their pupils, children with disadvantaged backgrounds. In general most schools address the individual needs of these children without recourse to supplementary targeted resources. There is significant evidence from research, both in Ireland and elsewhere, that disadvantage associated with poverty assumes a multiplier effect and are exacerbated when large proportions of pupils in a school are from poor backgrounds (a 'social context' effect).

Schools and school clusters/communities are allocated supplementary resources and supports in accordance with their level of concentration of disadvantage under the Department of Education and Skills' Schools Support Programme under DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion. The National Educational Welfare Board with responsibility for the School Completion Programme and Home School Community Liaison, which are major components of DEIS transferred to my Department with effect from 2 June 2011.

The majority of the 692 schools currently participating in the School Completion Programme (SCP) operate meal provision as part of after school clubs and homework clubs. These measures are considered to be key elements of the supports provided by 124 School Completion Programme projects throughout Ireland.

In addition to funding provided through the School Completion Programme, the provision of school meals is primarily funded by the School Meals Programme, administered by my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection which is strictly for food items only. The School Meals Programme aims to supplement the nutritional intake of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds in order to allow them to fulfil their potential within the educational system and also to reduce the risk of early school leaving. In 2010, expenditure by the Department of Social Protection on the School Meals Programme was €30.96m and the budget allocation for 2011 is €35m.

Educational research has shown that good nutrition improves concentration levels of students and that students from low-income families are less likely to have access to an adequate diet. Providing nutritional meals for the most marginalised children and young people is a core function of breakfast and most homework clubs under SCP, however, the social aspect of such clubs cannot be overestimated.

After school supports provided under the School Completion Programme focus on the personal and social development of children and young people, which aim to enrich their overall educational experience by providing fun activities that tap into their many talents. Programmes that focus on activities like Drama, Music, Art, Craftwork and Sport enable children and young people to develop a range of creative and sporting skills. These activities help to boost self-esteem, have positive consequences for the classroom and are particularly important for academically weaker students. Parents are also encouraged to become involved to help out in homework clubs.