Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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129. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on the costing for hot school meals, per child, per school; and to identify the providers of the service, in tabular form. [6475/25]

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.

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.

The rate of payment for a the Hot School Meal per child per day is €3.20. As there are nearly 2,200 schools eligible for the hot school meal at present I have provided the information by County.

The table below shows the costing for the current 2024/2025 academic school year if all eligible children received a Hot School Meal:

In relation to suppliers, there are four nationwide school meal providers with another six regionally based suppliers. There are numerous smaller suppliers that in most cases supply school meals to rural schools.

All schools who wish to avail of funding are responsible for choosing their school meals supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. These rules clearly define the successful tenders responsibilities and obligations. The primary relationship is between school and supplier.

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 Programme for Government states that the Government 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.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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130. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of schools refused the hot meals scheme; and the reasons given in each incidence, in tabular form. [6478/25]

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.

The Hot School Meal programme is a subset of the wider School Meals Programme and is available to primary schools.

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.

All primary schools were invited to express an interest in joining the Hot School Meals Programme. From that initial expression of interest list, schools were then contacted by officials from by Department and invited to apply in tranches as the programme expanded.

No primary school tht applied was refused access to the Hot School Meals Programme.

I trust this clarifies the matter.