Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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1413. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will ensure that the hot meals service is provided to all pupils in small primary schools throughout the country as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46911/25]

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.

In Budget 2025, it was announced that the Hot School Meals Scheme would be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025 meaning that approximately 3,200 schools and 550,000 children are now eligible for hot school meals in the 2025/2026 academic school year.

The programme is designed so that meals are provided by contracted food business operators, with the responsibility for food safety and compliance with relevant legislative obligations placed on these professional providers and not on the schools themselves.  This ensures children benefit from a reliable, high-quality service, while schools are protected from having to take on responsibilities more appropriate to the providers, who will have the necessary expertise and experience in food provision.  However, if a school decides to be a food business organisation doing so brings with it significant additional legal risks, insurance implications, costs, training, operational and employer responsibilities.

The recent refinements to the procurement system, which underpins the programme, strengthens it by ensuring consistent standards across all participating schools.  They also reflect the combined input of several Government Departments and State agencies, ensuring that schools and providers operate safely and compliantly across areas such as food safety, health and safety, fire safety, and building regulations.

No new legislation has been introduced nor has there been a change in the application of the law.

Any school that is currently under contract can continue to utilise their food business operator.  The schools where the food business operator has ceased delivery of school meals have been sent information on the 4 September outlining options for the school to ensure they have access to the school meals programme.

I trust this clarifies the matter.