Written answers
Thursday, 18 September 2025
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Departmental Data
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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289. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the percentage of pupils regularly present who do not collect a school meal when it is available, by school and term since 2023; the Department’s plan to address stigma, timing and menu acceptability barriers; and to cite any pilots to improve uptake. [49467/25]
Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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292. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide data on food waste from school meals (kg/week per school), for the years 2023 to 2025; and any menu reformulation or packaging trials to reduce waste. [49470/25]
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 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.
Under the School Meals Programme, the primary relationship is between the school and supplier. My Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school and it is the responsibility of each school board to administer the Programme in their school, including handling the procurement process.
The Schools Procurement Unit, which is grant funded by the Department of Education, provides guidance to schools for all procurements including the School Meals Programme. This includes guidelines to:
- Promote sustainability
- Offer healthy food choices
- Reduce plastic and non-recyclable packaging
- Support Green Public Procurement as required by the Environmental Protection Agency
- Implementing recommendations outlined in Green Tenders – Action Plan
As the primary relationship is between the school and supplier my department does not have data in relation to uncollected school meals. All suppliers have a meal cancelation policy.
Under the Programme, parents can choose food for their child every week from an approved menu which contains a range of options that are offered by the school’s supplier in accordance with Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals. Under tender documentation, as stipulated by the Schools Procurement’s Unit, the menu is to accommodate those with food intolerances and allergies, including those with Coeliac disease and cultural/religious requirements. In addition, the supplier is required to check these details with the school upon award of the contract, in order to accommodate those children. The supplier must also provide clearly visible menu boards with an allergens list.
All primary school children now have an entitlement for Hot School Meals, which eliminates stigma. Under the Programme for Government, I will commence the rollout of Hot School Meals to all secondary schools over the lifetime of this Government. Furthermore, I will ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction of food waste and the use of recyclable packaging.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
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