Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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277. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps he taking to ensure that food and beverages being served in schools here avoid being calorie-dense fried foods and processed food items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2864/17]

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 some €40 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.

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. Applicants to the scheme are directed to the Department's website which clearly advises that funding is for healthy nutritious food only and examples of food items are provided. Access to various healthy eating documents and guidelines are available on the school meals site including a link to the recently launched 'Healthy Food for Life – the Healthy Eating Guidelines and Food Pyramid' by the Department of Health.

Schools and organisations must reapply for funding in advance of each school year and are required to submit detailed records at the end of each school year. Expenditure on unhealthy food items is deducted from the following year's funding allocation. In addition, the Department initiated an on-site inspection programme in 2012 in participating schools to ensure that the scheme rules are being adhered to. The inspection process is being rolled out across all schools and includes an assessment of the type of food provided.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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278. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the free school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3133/17]

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 some €40 million in 2016. As part of Budget 2017, I announced an additional €5.7 million for school meals which will benefit over 50,000 extra children.

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. From September 2016 additional funding is being provided to DEIS schools already participating in the scheme to provide breakfast and lunch to pupils. Also, some 17 new DEIS schools have joined the scheme for the current academic year and a further 8 have expressed an interest in joining.

The school referred to by the Deputy previously applied to join the scheme and was informed that no provision could be provided at that time as they were not designated DEIS status.

The additional funding allocated in Budget 2017 also provides for the inclusion in the scheme, from September 2017, of any additional schools not currently part of DEIS and deemed to be disadvantaged following the completion of the review underway in the Department of Education and Skills. There is also some provision towards the extension of the scheme to breakfast clubs in non-DEIS schools from September 2017 which is the first time in many years that increased payments will be provided to schools outside of DEIS. Priority will be provided to those schools where there is most need and they will be contacted by the Department inviting them to join the school meals scheme in due course.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.