Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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106. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of school breakfast clubs currently being supported by his Department; the number of children availing of the service; the costs associated with same, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21761/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of €42 million in 2016. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them.

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) in line with the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures. 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.

There has been a marked increase in the funding provided for breakfast clubs in the programme, with an increase of over 50% in the level of funding in respect of claims for the 2015/2016 school year compared to the previous year. Funding was provided for approximately 700 breakfast clubs benefitting 78,000 children at a total cost of some €7 million for the school year 2015/2016. The total spend on breakfast club by county is provided in the following table.

Expenditure on breakfast clubs – academic year 2015/2016