Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if some pupils in schools with DEIS status have an entitlement to a school meal, while others do not; if so, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1045/16]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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179. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of the school meals programme and the number of children covered by this programme. [1567/16]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 36 and 179 together.

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 in 2015. An additional €3 million was allocated to the programme as part of Budget 2016, bringing the 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.

In recent years priority for new applications for funding has been given to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skills initiative for disadvantaged schools “Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools” (DEIS). However, there is no automatic entitlement to funding and all applications must be considered in light of the available budget for the scheme.

Following the provision of additional funding in recent budgets, the Department has been in a position to grant some increases to DEIS schools for the current academic year. There has been a particular focus on the promotion of breakfast clubs within the programme, which provide very positive outcomes for vulnerable children in terms of their school attendance, punctuality and energy levels.

If the Deputy has a query in relation to a particular DEIS school he should provide details to the Department for review.