Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

In 2023, this Department published an independent evidence-based Evaluation of the School Meals Programme which sets out the positive impact the Programme is having in terms of children’s education and wellbeing.

In Budget 2025, it was announced that the Hot School Meals Scheme will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025, meaning that approximately 3,200 schools and 550,000 children will be eligible for hot school meals in 2025.

A specific standard was set for School Meals under the Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. These were based on the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Food Based Dietary Recommendations for healthy eating by a technical working group led by:

• the Health and Wellbeing Programme of the Department of Health
• Safefood and
• the Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme in the Health Service Executive.

The primary relationship is between the school and supplier and if a school is not satisfied with the standard of food they should bring it to the attention of the supplier. All schools who wish to avail of funding under the programme are responsible for choosing their schools meals supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. These rules clearly define the successful tenderer’s responsibilities and obligations, including in relation to compliance with Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals.

Under the Hot School Meals Scheme, parents can choose food for their child every week from an approved menu which contains a range of options that are offered by the school’s supplier in accordance with Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. The Department reviews the options to ensure nutrition value.

The Department of Social Protection has an oversight role in relation to the School Meals Programme and conducts regular inspections of schools. Under the existing audit process, some 400 schools are inspected annually by this Department. While the 2024 round of inspections is concluded, we are currently completing final report, to date less than 1% of cases were found with menu compliance issues.

All schools must submit a sample menu with their application for the School Meals Programme. Funding will not be provided for food that doesn’t comply with these standards. All participating schools must also submit to this Department a signed Service Level Agreement which clearly sets out the school’s responsibilities and obligations in terms of compliance with nutritional standards. Adherence to the agreed Menu options is also monitored.

Under the Programme for Government the Department will continue to expand and improve the Hot School Meals Scheme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, reduce food waste and utilise recyclable packaging.

We do not have a register of complaints as the relationship is between the school and the supplier; however on any occasion, where there may be any concerns about the quality of food provided under the School Meals Programme in any specific school, they should be brought to my Department’s attention, and it will be followed up accordingly.

I trust this clarifies the matter.