Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

180. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of primary schools in the State that do not currently have access to the free school meal scheme, despite being eligible, by county, in tabular form. [64170/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As announced In Budget 2025, the Hot School Meals Scheme was extended to all remaining primary schools meaning that approximately 3,200 schools and 550,000 children are eligible for hot school meals in the 2025 2026 academic school year. As such, all primary schools have access to the scheme should they wish to apply for it.

Schools apply annually to my Department for the School Meals Programme funding and choose the start date of their programme.

My Department provides the funding for the meals directly to the school. The primary relationship is between the school and supplier. It is the responsibility of each school board to select a supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules. The School Meals Programme is not mandatory for schools. The decision to apply lies with the school principal and board of management.

In September 2024 2,178 schools were eligible to apply for the School Meals Programme. 97% of these schools applied and were awarded funding. Another 64 schools which were eligible in September 2024 did not apply for the programme.

My Department is continuing to receive and process applications from schools for the current 2025-2026 academic year which started a number of months ago. A county breakdown of schools who have yet to submit their application as of 14th November 2025 is provided below as requested.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

181. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the date in Q4 2025 that we can expect publication of the review carried out on nutritional standards of the free school meal scheme. [64171/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.