Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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288. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated average cost of providing hot school meals per child in primary school; the cost per child in post primary schools; and the cost per child in other organisations, respectively in the years 2023 to 2024 and to date from 2024 to 2025, by academic year, in tabular form. [27901/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated average cost of providing hot school meals per child in every post primary school in the State; the cost, per child, in post primary schools; and the cost, per child, in other organisations, respectively in the 2023-2024 academic year and to date in the 2024-2025 academic year, in tabular form. [28220/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 292 together.

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.

As clarified with the Deputy's office, I have detailed the average cost per child for all meal clubs awarded under the School Meals Programme for Primary, Secondary and Organisations for the years 2023/24 and 2024/25. The differing averages shown below reflect the differing mixes of meal options available.