Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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623. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the hot meals programme for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51401/25]

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. This ensures responsibility for food safety and legislative compliance is placed on these professional providers and not on the schools themselves. This also 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 or application of the law changed.

Ballyduff National School Tralee were contacted by my Department in July informing them if their contract had expired they could extend it with their existing supplier until 31st December, and concurrently start procurement using the Department of Education School Procurement Unit’s documentation for a new supplier.

As this school were changing supplier and their previous supplier has removed the ovens, they can avail of the cold lunch option in the interim. I understand from the principal of the school that their procurement for Hot School Meals is well under way. This new contract can commence as soon as they have finalised procurement.

I trust this clarifies the matter.