Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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312. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if an application by a school (details supplied) under the schools meals programme has been received; when a decision will be made on this application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36893/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of €42 million in 2016.

As part of Budget 2017, I announced an additional €5.7 million for school meals which will benefit over 50,000 children providing breakfasts and lunches. Of these, some 35,000 extra breakfasts will be provided in non-DEIS schools from September 2017 and will be expanded in future years. This is the first time in many years that increased payments will be provided to schools outside of DEIS.

The school referred to by the Deputy, made an application for school meals funding on 16 November 2016. As the school is not a DEIS school it cannot be considered for funding for the current academic year.

Officials in my Department are engaging with colleagues in the Department of Education and Skills in examining options regarding the provision of the additional funding to schools for the next school year. Priority will be provided to those schools where there is most need.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.