Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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608. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the remaining schools will be able to avail of the free school meals programme; the timeline for its full implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7981/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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.

My Department have contacted the remaining primary schools who have not yet joined the Hot School Meals scheme asking them to submit expressions of interest if their school wish to commence the provision of hot school meals.

Under the Programme for Government, I plan to commence the rollout of Hot School Meals to secondary schools over the lifetime of this Government.

I trust this clarifies the matter.