Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The objective of the School Meals 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. Following the expansion of the Programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding.

I am committed to continuing to expand the School Meals Programme and building further on the significant extension of the Programme that has taken place in recent years. As part of this significant expansion plan, all remaining primary schools were contacted last year and requested to submit an expression of interest form if their school is interested in commencing the provision of hot school meals.

Expressions of interests were received from over 900 primary schools in respect of 150,000 children and late last year these schools were invited to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme from 8th April 2024.

Earlier this week, I launched a new expression of interest round to encourage all remaining primary schools to participate in the scheme.

In relation to schools located in Kerry, please see a breakdown below in tabular form as requested.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Tabular Statements Below:

Table 1: There are 43 new schools included in the latest round of hot meals. List provided below listing dates on which all schools were approved for the programme

Dates schools were invited to Hot Meals Scheme	No. of Schools
Sep-19	1
Jan-21	2
Jan-22	2
Sep-22	15
Sep-23	20
Apr-24	43
Total	83

Table 2: The number of schools that expressed an interest in the programme in the most recent call

No. of Schools who expressed a late interest	No. of Schools
Following EOI Deadline	12

Table 3: The number of schools that remain outside the programme

No. of Schools who haven't submitted any interest to date	40

Table 4: A list of all schools in County Kerry now availing of hot meals

School Roll No.	Component Organisation Name	No. Of Children
02418V	Knockaderry Farranfore National School	50
04062S	Listowel Presentation Primary	186
05348S	Tahilla Community National School	25
07841L	Kilgobnet N S	78
08251S	Scoil Naomh Micheal	69
08687J	S N Muire Gan Smal	36
09209B	Castledrum N S	108
09782I	Ballymacelligott 1 N S	21
10050U	Scoil Bhríde	114
10501E	Scoil Easa Dhuibhe	59
10957B	S N Mhuire De Lourdes	98
11067T	S N Naomh Brid	179
11405N	Faha National School	225
11419B	Scoil Bhreanainn	92
12820H	Scoil Realt Na Mara	141
12875J	Gaelscoil Naomh Séamas	39
13530D	Scoil Mhuire	401
13540G	Murhur N S	74
14002G	Knockaclarig Mxd N S	46
14366V	Loughfouder N S	22
14952L	Muire Gan Smal	113
14998M	Lyre A Crompane N S	18
15878H	Derryquay Mxd N S	45
15945T	Firies Mxd N S	259
15978L	Curraheen Mxd N S	46
16871V	S N An Chroi Naofa	345
16898S	S N Breandan Naofa	215
16917T	Naomh Padraig Measc	186
17161S	Kiltallagh N S	24
17349N	S N An Leana Mhoir	15
17646T	S N Uaimh Bhreanainn	197
17710C	S N An Chuilleanaig	181
17744T	S N Gniomh Go Leith B	118
17915U	Freastogail Mhuire Mxd	51
18049G	Scoil Mhuire Na Mainistreach	193
18084I	Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal	26
18214S	S.n. Cill Conla	39
18233W	St Johns Parochial School	80
18247K	S N Mhuire Na Mbraithre	427
18283O	Scoil Mhuire	42
18325E	Naomh Charthaigh	48
18414D	S N Gleann Beithe	97
18702I	Spa National School	224
18705O	Tarbert National School	137
18832V	Castlemaine N S	108
19304B	S N Cillin Liath	37
19376D	St Itas & St Josephs Ns	153
19384C	Ardfert Central N S	215
19483E	S N Dar Earca	53
19487M	Holy Cross Primary School	382
19492F	S N Oilibhear Naofa	58
19536W	Holy Family	278
19547E	St Francis Special Sch	62
19548G	Nano Nagle N School	90
19631Q	Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn	403
19659P	St Brendans N S	50
19745I	Scartaglin New Central School	129
19846O	Realt Na Maidne	169
19917L	Gaelscoil Naomh Aogain	177
19941I	Gaelscoil Faithleann	245
19957A	Dromclough N S	208
20013U	Gaelscoil Lios Tuathail	122
20112W	Caherciveen N S	174
20229U	Nagle Rice Primary School	370
20478S	Ballyduff National School	109