Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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383. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to regularise the working conditions of special needs school bus escorts, who are currently forced to sign on the dole for approximately 11 weeks a year, when schools are closed (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9920/23]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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415. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is aware of the challenges faced by those who are employed as special needs bus escorts, in cases in which they are required to obtain social welfare support outside of school term as in the case of a person (details supplied); if she plans to request that the Intreo service improves and streamlines the system for claimants who work in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10001/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 415 together.

Educational sector workers, including special needs bus escorts, who wish to avail of income support while temporarily laid-off during the school breaks can apply for a jobseeker’s payment but must satisfy all the qualifying conditions to receive this payment. This includes completing the relevant claim application forms and supporting documentation in a timely manner. Seasonal workers, including educational workers, should apply for Jobseeker’s Benefit as soon as they become unemployed. A jobseeker’s payment is paid for days of unemployment where the person is not being remunerated by their employer, including receipt of any holiday pay entitlement during the school break.

Educational sector workers who are employed on a temporary basis and who have previously been in contact with the Department, are issued with a repeat jobseeker’s application form and holiday form in advance of the school holiday periods. This advance process facilitates an efficient service to these customers and allows for speedy processing of their claim when the period of unemployment actually arises.

However, it is important to note that educational sector workers are still required to sign on for each period of unemployment and satisfy all the qualifying conditions for Jobseeker’s Benefit, including the 3 waiting days at the start of the claim if it does not link to a previous jobseeker's claim. As each claim is assessed individually, and each person's employment history, including previous claims, is different, the payment due will also be different.

Scheme areas are monitored on an on-going basis and processing procedures are reviewed to ensure that claims are paid to customers as quickly as possible.

The working conditions of special needs school bus escorts are a matter for the Minister for Education.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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384. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of schools in County Wexford that receive funding for breakfast clubs; the number of those that are DEIS schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10032/23]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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419. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of schools in County Wexford that receive funding for breakfast clubs; the number of those that are DEIS schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10033/23]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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426. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection how many DEIS schools in Wexford have been receiving the school meals programme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10153/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 384, 419 and 426 together.

The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.

Budget 2023 has provided €94.4 million for the programme with an additional €14.5m now being provided to allow access to all DEIS schools from September 2023.

Entry to the School Meals Scheme has been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified by the Department of Education as having levels of concentrated disadvantage meaning that their students would benefit from access to the School Meals Programme. Participation in the scheme is entirely voluntary and schools must reapply for funding in advance of each school year.

There are 43 DEIS schools in Wexford that participate in the School Meals Programme. The number of schools that receive funding for breakfast clubs is 27 of which 24 are DEIS schools.

I am committed to continuing to expand the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme in recent years. In this regard, I intend to complete the roll-out of the Hot School Meals to all DEIS primary schools and special schools from September 2023, benefiting 64,500 children. I will also bring forward proposals in the coming weeks regarding commencing the roll-out of the Hot School Meals to non-DEIS primary schools.

In addition, the final report from the evaluation of the school meals programme was recently received which I am currently reviewing. This report will help to inform future decisions around this important programme.

I trust this clarifies the matter.