asked the Minister for Social Welfare it he will consider the provision of adequate hot school meals free of charge to all school children.

The role of my Department in relation to school meals is limited to the making of grants to certain local authorities as a contribution to the cost of any school meals schemes operated by them and no change in this role is contemplated at present.

Does the Minister think the present expenditure on milk and sandwiches is a worth-while expenditure or do the administration costs nearly exceed the cost of the food?

This is a matter for the local authorities. If they are satisfied that the scheme is beneficial they carry on but if they are not they can bring it to an end. I have never heard any volume of complaints to the effect that these schemes are not worth-while. My role as Minister for Social Welfare is confined to making grants available to the local authorities who introduce these schemes.

Has the Minister any proposals to extend the areas where local authorities may operate these schemes.

Not at present.

They are still confined to urban areas.

There is a very small Gaeltacht element.

And a piece of Ballymun that Deputy Cluskey arranged.