237. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of rolling out hot school meals to Junior Certificate level, and to all students up to Leaving Certificate level. [43790/24]

Post-primary schools are not currently eligible for hot school meals. Post-primary schools in the DEIS programme prior to 2022 can, however, avail of the dinner option. This differs from the hot school meal in that it is generally provided by schools with onsite cooking facilities, whereas hot school meals provided to primary schools are prepared offsite.

There are some 2,200 primary schools currently eligible for hot school meals for the 2024-2025 school year. As announced in Budget 2025, hot school meals will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025 meaning that there will be 3,200 eligible schools in respect of 550,000 children. This expansion will increase the School Meals budget by just over €72 million to an overall budget of €288 million.

The estimated annual cost of expanding the hot school meals programme to Junior Certificate level is €120 million, while the estimated annual cost of expanding the hot school meals programme to Leaving Certificate level is €221 million, at a daily rate of €3.20 per pupil.

Any roll-out of Hot School Meals to Secondary Schools would have to be reviewed as the school environment is different than primary schools and the benefit of the programme would have to be assessed.

I trust this clarifies the matter.