Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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1173. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a State-funded primary school may refuse to participate in the free school meals programme; the circumstances in which it may decide to refuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58363/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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1174. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of primary schools that have refused to participate in the free school meals programme; the percentage this amount is of the total number of primary schools in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58364/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1173 and 1174 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.

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 3,700 schools and organisations and 682,000 children are now be eligible for the School Meals Programme.

The School Meals Programme is not mandatory for schools. The decision to apply lies with the school principal and board of management. There were some 300 schools who had not expressed an interest to join the programme at the end of the 2024/2025 academic year. My officials have engaged with these schools to ascertain the reasons why. The main reason given was due to a lack of demand from parents for the programme.

I trust this clarifies the matter.