Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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152. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of schools in county Kildare that are now eligible to receive hot school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21686/25]

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.

Following my announcement on the 11 April 2025, there are 2,850 primary schools now participating in the Hot School Meals Programme for the current academic school year. As announced in Budget 2025, Hot School Meals will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025 meaning that there will be 3,200 eligible schools in respect of 550,000 children from September 2025.

The total number of schools eligible for Hot School Meals in County Kildare is 85. I would encourage any primary schools in Kildare not currently part of the Hot School Meals programme to apply for the programme.