Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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162. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of island schools receiving the school meals programme; if he is satisfied with the way in which the programme is operating on island schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17120/25]

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 School Meals Programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided.

The Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school. Funding under this programme is solely for food. There is no provision for transport costs as they are the responsibility of the supplier.

For the current 2024-2025 academic year there are a total of twelve island primary schools of which eight have applied. Four of the schools applied for and were awarded Hot School Meals and the other four schools applied for and were awarded the cold lunch option. There are are total of five island secondary schools of which one has applied and is awarded the breakfast and cold lunch.

If the school referred to by the Deputy has any questions in relation to this matter, they can contact officials in my department at school.meals@welfare.ie. 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.