Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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663. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a school (details supplied) and many other smaller rural schools are being disregarded in the provision of hot school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55130/25]

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.

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.

Some 89% of primary schools with fewer than 50 pupils who participated in the School Meal Programme in 2024/2025 received a hot school meal. My Department will work with all rural schools to find a resolution in regards to getting the hot schools meals set up. Ballyguiltenane National School Limerick has been contacted by my officials.

I trust this clarifies the matter.