109. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has been informed of any closures or concerns about hot school meal providers by the food safety authority Ireland; if so, when; and the response of his Department. [74836/26]

All suppliers participating in the School Meals Programme are registered food business operators and, like all food businesses in Ireland, are required to comply with food safety legislation.

Responsibility for producing and supplying safe food rests with the food business operator, while the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, as Ireland's independent regulator and central competent authority for food safety, oversees compliance with food safety legislation.  School Meals suppliers are subject to the same high standards, inspection regimes and enforcement measures as all other registered food businesses.

The Department of Health advised my Department on 24 September 2026 that a Closure Order has been served by the HSE National Environmental Health Service on a food business operator in Timahoe GAA, Páirc Mochua, Cremorgan, Timahoe, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

The premises operated as a distribution hub and at the time of inspection, my Department was advised no food was stored at the premises.

Officials from my Department contacted the supplier who advised only one school was being served from the affected premises and that food provision for this school has been moved to a neighboring Heating hub.

Closure Orders and Improvement Orders remain listed in the enforcement reports on the Food Safety Authority website for a period of three months from the date of when a premises is adjudged to have corrected its food safety issue.

My Department funds the provision of meals under the School Meals Programme directly to schools.  Individual school boards of management are responsible for administering the programme, including procuring a food business operator in accordance with public procurement rules and managing their contracts.

If a school is not satisfied with their supplier, they should raise any concerns with them and if the issues are not resolved to the school’s satisfaction, they can invoke the termination clause in their contract with their supplier and procure an alternative provider.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.