Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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1421. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the membership of and dates of meetings of the inter-departmental group on school meals. [47225/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My department has established an interdepartmental working group, which includes the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Department of Children, Equality and Disability.

It has met on the following dates; however, there is also regular ongoing engagement between the State bodies concerned:

18th December 2024

06th February 2025

11th March 2025

25th March 2025

16th April 2025  (Inter-departmental group met with suppliers to outline the refinements to the procurement process, the exclusion of the foods high in salt and sugar, the recruitment of a dietitian to assist in the School Meals Programme and suppliers responsibilities)

08th May 2025  (Inter-departmental group with Education Partners to outline the refinements to the procurement process, the exclusion of the foods high in salt and sugar, the recruitment of a dietitian to assist in the School Meals Programme and suppliers responsibilities )

28th May 2025

09th July 2025

23rd July 2025  (Meeting with Education Partners for feedback in relation to the changes in the procurement process)

20th August 2025

28th August 2025

03rd September 2025

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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1422. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the breakdown of the schools that are taking part in the hot schools meals programme, by county, in tabular form. [47281/25]

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 table below contains details of the number of schools in receipt of Hot School Meals by county for the 2024/25 academic year.  The 2025/26 academic year has just commenced and my department are currently receiving applications. 

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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1423. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of schools that have 20 students or less, 40 students or less, 60 students or less, 80 students or less, 100 students or less, 150 students or less, 200 students or less, 300 students or less, 400 students or less, 500 students or less that are taking part in the hot schools meals programme, by school name and county location, in tabular form [47282/25]

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 eligible for hot school meals in 2025/2026 academic school year.  

The table below contains details of schools in receipt of the Hot School Meals for the 2024/2025 academic year, broken down by class size of students in each school as requested.