Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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145. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he has concerns about the quality of meals being provided under the hot school meals scheme; if he has concerns about the amount of food provided under the scheme being binned due to these issues; if he has engaged with meal providers regarding this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61450/25]

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 Nutritional Standards for School Meals have been in place since its inception and were developed by a technical Nutrition Subgroups comprised of:

• Dieticians from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland,
• The HSE,
• Safefood, and
• The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

Nutritional standards are a priority for me and for the Government. I have directed that a review of the scheme’s nutritional standards be undertaken. This is being conducted by a dietician in coordination with the Interdepartmental Group on School Meals. I have asked for a report on the nutritional standards to be submitted to me by the end of this year. In the meantime, food that is high in saturated fat, sugar and salt, was removed from the school menu from September 2025. Up to now this food had been permitted, as an option, once a week at most and only when selected by the child's parents.

The primary relationship is between the school and supplier. All schools who wish to avail of funding under the programme are responsible for choosing their schools meals supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. These rules clearly define the successful tenderer’s responsibilities and obligations, including in relation to compliance with Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals.

Officials of my Department have met with suppliers to outline the refinements to the procurement process, the exclusion of the foods high in salt and sugar and the recruitment of a dietitian to assist in the School Meals Programme and suppliers responsibilities.

My department has an oversight role in relation to the School Meals Programme and conducts regular inspections of schools which includes reviewing the menu. Under the existing audit process, some 400 schools are inspected onsite annually by that department. In total, 121 desk assessments were carried out in 2024. This represents a 20% total check on schools. For 2025, 400 schools will be inspected and the desk assessments will be increased to circa 250 cases as more schools become eligible to join the programme. Ongoing audits can increase or decrease based on risk assessments levels.

These inspections assist this department in ensuring standards are being met in relation to different areas of the School Meals Programme.

In terms of packaging and waste, under tender documentation, the school meal supplier is responsible for operating policies which progressively address environmental considerations such as waste and packaging. Depending on the school size and school meal requirements, the school will decide on the method and logistics that best meets their needs in line with environmental standards.

In addition, under tender documentation requirements, the school is committed to the principles of environmental management in its activities, and it encourages the implementation of sustainability principles in its procurement practices. The supplier should make all reasonable efforts to minimise adverse environmental impact in the methods of services delivery and in materials used. My department does not collect details of the amount of additional wastage caused by school meals.

Under the Programme for Government, I will continue to expand and improve the Free Hot School Meals programme and ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals, the dietary requirements of students, the reduction food waste and the use of recyclable packaging.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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146. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of schools still waiting on the national roll out of the hot school meals programme; the communication her Department has had with providers of the hot school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59396/25]

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 Nutritional Standards for School Meals have been in place since its inception and were developed by a technical Nutrition Subgroups comprised of:

• Dieticians from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute of Ireland,
• The HSE,
• Safefood, and
• The Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

The rollout of the Hot School Meals Scheme has been on a phased basis since the pilot programme was launch in 2019 with 37 schools.

In April 2024 908 Schools became eligible to join the programme. Of those 97% of Schools availed of the Hot School Meals Scheme with 1.4 % opting for the cold lunch option. Once schools become eligible to join the programme, they must conduct procurement to obtain a school meals provider and also set up a separate bank accounts for school meals funds. Both of these can take several weeks to complete.

The total number of schools and children benefitting from the Hot School Meals Programme in the last academic year 2024/2025 was 2,064 schools and 332,593 pupils.

As announced in budget 2025 all 3,200 primary schools and 550,000 children will be eligible for the Hot School Meals Programme in the 2025-2025 academic school year. This academic year started a few weeks ago and applications are continuing to be received.

In April 2025 officials of my Department met with suppliers to outline the refinements to the procurement process, the exclusion of the foods high in fat, salt and sugar, the recruitment of a dietitian to assist in the School Meals Programme and suppliers responsibilities. My departments website was also updated to ensure all suppliers were kept informed.

I trust this clarifies the matter.