381. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the assistance available to a school when no catering provider is willing or able to serve its area for school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66434/26]

382. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to ensure that small rural and Gaeltacht schools are not excluded from the school meals programme because of their location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66435/26]

383. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide additional funding or a different delivery model where the standard catering arrangements for school meals are not viable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66436/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 381, 382 and 383 together.

Since September 2025 all 3,200 primary schools and 550,000 children are eligible for hot school meals. Across all meal types there some 3,700 schools and 682,000 children are eligible for support. This equates to the distribution of up to 3.4 million school meals per week.

There are over 300 school meal providers delivering school meals across the country, comprising a diverse group of organisations from large national suppliers, regional suppliers, to local restaurants and food outlets as well as meals on wheels. The advice my Department has given to schools is that they may procure school meals from any registered food business provider as long as they meet the standards set in the procurement documentation. This includes local cafés, restaurants, caterers, meals on wheels services and community organisations registered as food business operators.

I would encourage local food businesses and meals on wheels services to engage with their local schools when they tender for a school meals provider. This Department has also worked with officials in the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and compiled a list of supports available to local communities, including meals on wheels services, who may wish to expand their operation into the school meals area. This information has been supplied to rural and Gaeltacht schools experiencing difficulties obtaining a supplier and a range of other community organisations. This has been shared with you under separate cover.

Should any school wish to contact my Department directly to discuss the options available to them, they can do so by contacting school.meals@welfare.ie or 071 9138625.