Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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439. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a school (details supplied) are eligible to provide a breakfast club through the school meals or DEIS programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28531/25]

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.

Danú Community Special School was awarded the Hot School Meals from September 2023. The priority of the government is the rollout of the Hot School Meals scheme to all primary schools.

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 with a budget of €300 million.

Any additional measures to expand the coverage of other meal options would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter.