Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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27. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has identified the problems of the school meals programme which has resulted in some schools being unable to avail of it; and her plans to address these concerns. [24784/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations and benefits over 207,000 children. Despite pressure on the social protection budget, the Government allocated an additional €2 million for the programme in 2015, providing a total allocation of €39 million.

The scheme provides support to disadvantaged children and priority is given to schools to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skills’ initiative for disadvantaged schools, ‘Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools’ (DEIS). DEIS schools which were not participating in the scheme were invited by the Department to join during 2013 and 2014. Applications from DEIS schools not currently participating in the scheme continue to be accepted.

In line with the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures, the additional €2 million allocated to the school meals programme will be used to provide payments to schools which are part of DEIS. There is a particular focus on the provision of breakfast clubs within the programme which provide very positive outcomes for vulnerable children in terms of their school attendance, punctuality and energy levels.

The Department is currently receiving applications for the forthcoming academic year and is considering options regarding the allocation of the additional funding.