Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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266. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 15 May 2024, to provide details of the tender documentation provided; to provide the options given of considerations for reduction in waste of packaging; and to provide all schools’ budget allocation and expenditure on school meals in tabular form. [6870/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Under the School Meals Programme, the primary relationship is between the school and supplier. My Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school and it is the responsibility of each school board to administer the Programme in their school, including handling the procurement process. 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.

Under tender documentation, and as stipulated by the Schools Procurement’s Unit, the school meal supplier is responsible for operating policies which progressively address environmental considerations such as waste and packaging. Depending on the school size and school meal requirements, the school will decide on the method and logistics that best meets its needs in line with environmental standards. In addition, under tender documentation requirements, the school is committed to the principles of environmental management in its activities, and it encourages the implementation of sustainability principles in its procurement practices. The supplier should make all reasonable efforts to minimise adverse environmental impact in the methods of services delivery and in materials used.

The Schools Procurement Unit, which is grant funded by the Department of Education, provides guidance to schools for all procurements including the School Meals Programme. This includes guidelines to:

• Promote sustainability
• Offer healthy food choices
• Reduce plastic and non-recyclable packaging
• Support Green Public Procurement as required by the Environmental Protection Agency
• Implementing recommendations outlined in Green Tenders – Action Plan

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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267. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide the details of the process for quality checks of the Healthy Ireland Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. [6871/25]

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.

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.

All schools must submit a sample menu with their application for the School Meals Programme. Funding will not be provided for food that does not comply with these standards. All participating schools must also submit to my department a signed Service Level Agreement which clearly sets out the school’s responsibilities and obligations in terms of compliance with nutritional standards.

My department 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.

My department established an interdepartmental working group, which includes the Department of Health and the Department Education, to oversee and make recommendations on the operation of the scheme, including nutrition inspection and evaluation.

Under the Programme for Government, I will continue to expand and improve the Free Hot School Meals programme and that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction food waste and the use recyclable packaging.

I trust this clarifies the matter.