Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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47. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a school (details supplied) in County Donegal did not qualify for the full grant applied for under the school meal (local projects) scheme for 2015-2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45741/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations which benefits approximately 217,000 children at a total cost of €39 million. An additional €3 million was allocated to the programme as part of Budget 2016, bringing the total allocation to €42 million in 2016.

There are two schemes operated under the school meals programme. The first scheme is the urban school meals scheme which is operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects scheme through which funding is provided directly to participating schools and local and voluntary community groups who run their own school meals projects. There were over 1,390 schools, preschools and other groups participating in the school meals local projects scheme in the academic year 2014/2015.

The school referred to by the Deputy was allocated funding of €800 under the school meals local projects scheme in the 2014/15 academic year in respect of lunch for 12 pupils. The school applied for a significant increase in funding for the current academic year, 2015/16, requesting an allocation of €4,095 for 15 pupils. An increase of some 20% was provided in respect of the current academic year bringing the total allocation to €960 for 2015/16.

The Principal of the school has requested that the funding is re-examined and the matter is currently being reviewed by the Department. The Department will be in contact with the Principal directly regarding this matter.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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48. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the appeal process under the school meal (local projects) scheme for 2015-2016. [45742/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations which benefits approximately 217,000 children at a total cost of €39 million. An additional €3 million was allocated to the programme as part of Budget 2016, bringing the total allocation to €42 million in 2016.

There are two schemes operated under the school meals programme. The first scheme is the urban school meals scheme which is operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects scheme through which funding is provided directly to participating schools and local and voluntary community groups who run their own school meals projects. There were over 1,390 schools, preschools and other groups participating in the school meals local projects scheme in the academic year 2014/2015.

The school meals (local projects) scheme is a non-statutory scheme and is not covered under social welfare legislation. It is one of a number of social welfare schemes which operates on an administrative basis. Administrative schemes are not appealable under social welfare legislation.

However, where a person is dissatisfied with a decision on school meals funding they can request to have it reviewed by another officer. This review will be carried out by an officer not involved in the original decision.