Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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167. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if secondary schools that entered the DEIS programme from 2022 onwards are excluded from the school meals scheme; the reason a school (details supplied) has not yet been able to access funding for hot school lunch provision; when this school will be able to access funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68310/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, known as the DEIS programme, is a Department of Education and Youth policy which aims to reduce educational disadvantage. Our lady Mercy School, Beaumont, Dublin 9 is a DEIS Secondary school and all DEIS secondary schools have access to the School Meals Programme.

The Hot School Meals Programme is for Primary Schools. My immediate priority is to complete the roll-out of Hot School Meals to all Primary Schools in 2025/26 academic year. However, we will commence the rollout of Hot School Meals to all secondary schools over the lifetime of this government.

Our lady Mercy School, Beaumont has made an application for the School Meals Programme on the 3rd October 2025. We have requested further information from the school and my officials have followed up with a phone call. The school has confirmed that it will send in the information required and as soon as this is received, a decision will be made.