Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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683. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider the inclusion of a school (details supplied) in the school meals allowance scheme with immediate effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17380/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,557 schools and organisations benefitting 227,000 children. The objective of the programme 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. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.

Priority for funding under the School Meals Local Projects Scheme is given to schools which are part of the Department of Education initiative for disadvantaged schools, ‘Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools’ (DEIS). As the school referred to by the Deputy is not a DEIS school, regrettably it cannot be considered at this time.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.