Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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1418. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the operation of the hot school meals programme; if unspent funding allocated for the provision of this programme in a school will be re-allocated to the school to match the forecasted allocation for the interim period where there is a delay in implementing the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47137/25]

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.

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 updated procurement documents, developed by the Department of Education and Youth and set out in the new Schools Procurement Unit template documentation, strengthens the programme 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.

Food business operators are responsible for ensuring food is produced, stored, transported, and served safely, with the necessary controls in place to protect consumers.  The legislation included in the new Schools Procurement Unit template documentation is existing legislation which all Food Business Operators were already legally required to adhere to and would be aware of.  No new legislation has been introduced or application of the law changed.

The Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school. Funding under this programme is solely for food.

Schools can carry over any unused funds from a previous year to the next academic year provided they are continuing in the Schools Meals Programme.  This surplus can be used in the interim while they are awaiting payment on foot of their application, but the surplus total will be deducted from their new allocation for the current academic year.  

I trust this clarifies the matter.