845. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost if the rates for breakfast increased from 75c to €1 per person, cold lunch increased from €1.70 to €2.10 per person, dinner increased from €2.50 to €3.10 per person and hot school meal increased from €3.20 to €4 per person under the school meals programme. [46304/24]

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 estimated full-year costs as requested below, if all eligible children utilised 100% capacity of the school meals for the academic year:

• Breakfast increased from 75c to €1 per person equals a €6.2m increase per year

• Cold lunch increased from €1.70 to €2.10 equals a €2.7m increase per year

• Dinner increased from €2.50 to €3.10 equals a €5.3m increase per year

• Hot school meal increased from €3.20 to €4.00 equals a €67.5m increase per year

I trust this clarifies the matter.