Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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

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. 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.

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 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.

My 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 my Department.

In addition, my Department participates in the Department of Health’s Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group. This provides strategic oversight, coordination, and direction for cross-Departmental and cross-sectoral actions in this area.

Under the Programme for Government my 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.

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.