Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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138. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of schools who have refused to take up the offer of a hot school meal; the attempts his Department have made to change this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62023/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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.