Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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558. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a facility (details supplied) will be approved for funding under the school meals local project scheme. [43233/19]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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561. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a facility (details supplied) will be approved for funding under the school meals local project scheme. [43289/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 558 and 561 together.

The Minister would like to thank the Deputy and the facility for their interest in the pilot preschool meals programme.

First 5, Ireland's Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families was published in November of last year. The strategy's publication was followed in May of this year with the Implementation Plan for the first phase of implementation in 2019-2021. 

Informed by research, which shows us the value of the provision of adequate and nutritious meals for a child’s health and learning, First 5 outlines Government’s intention to pilot a meals programme in early learning and care settings.

In line with the First 5 Implementation Plan, I will provide the funds to commence this pilot in 2020.

The pilot will run in a sample of community not-for-profit early learning and care settings. It will focus on the ECCE Programme and will operate for the full duration of the 2020/2021 programme year (i.e. 38 weeks from September to June). A range of meals options will be piloted, including a hot meals option. Rates for meals will be based on the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s School Meals Programme.

A Working Group to oversee this pilot will soon be established to lead the development, roll-out the pilot and procure the services of an external evaluator. No decision has yet been made on how preschools will be selected. 

Following the conclusion of the pilot and the evaluation, consideration will be given to extending this meals programme to a larger number of early learning and care settings and on a more a permanent basis.