Written answer
School Meals Programme
The named school is eligible for the School Meals Programme but told officials it does not currently plan to participate, as participation is voluntary.
410. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection for his Department to engage with a school (details supplied) to roll out the School Meals Programme. [67010/26]
Comment on this
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.
The school reference in the question did not apply last year nor, to date for the 2026/2027 academic year. Officials from my department have contacted the school who advised they don’t currently plan to avail of the programme.
The School Meals Programme is not mandatory, the decision to apply lies with the Principal and the Board of Management.