318. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing expenditure on the school meals programme by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively, taking into account changes announced in budget 2020 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44080/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2020 increased funding for the School Meals Programme by €4 million, from €57.6 million in 2019 to €61.6 million in 2020.  The Budget measure provides funding for an additional 35,000 primary school pupils to receive hot meals in place of the cold lunches they currently receive under the School Meals Programme.

The estimated cost of increasing expenditure on the School Meals Programme by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% is detailed in the following table: