Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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295. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the school lunch programme for rural schools, especially in Kerry, as rural schools are faced with a lack of providers for the school lunch programme as the distance is prohibitive; if she will increase the funding for this service in rural schools to reflect the distances from local providers to the schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18258/25]

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.

Funding under the programme is solely for food.

My Department has engaged with a number of schools that have been unable to secure a hot meals supplier due to their location, facilities or space. These schools have been advised to contact local caterers or supermarkets or try to source a local supplier that could provide a lunch with drink as an alternative to a hot meal. In such circumstances, many of these schools have been able to provide school meals to their pupils.

If the schools as referred to by the Deputy have any questions in relation to this matter, they can contact officials of my Department at . They will advise them of the meal options available to them and assist with any queries they may have.

I trust this clarifies the matter.