Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

454. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on the school meals programme; the cost in 2017 of increasing expenditure on this programme by 5% and 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22610/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

Based on the 2016 budgetary allocation of €42 million, the additional annual cost of expanding the school meals programme by 5% is €2.1 million, at a cost of approximately €840,000 in the first year covering the school-term from September to December. The additional annual cost of expanding the school meals programme by 10% is €4.2 million, at a cost of approximately €1.7m in the first year covering the school term from September to December.

Overall, it should be noted that any changes to social welfare schemes can only be considered in a budgetary context.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.