I would also very much like to pass on my condolences to Senator Craughwell. I spoke to him during the summer just before his wife passed away. It must be hard, but I am delighted to see him back here.

Today, I welcome the very positive changes announced yesterday to the hot school meals programme. These changes show what can happen when Government listens to parents, principals, teachers, children and those delivering the programme on the ground. A few months ago, I ran a survey and received over 8,000 responses. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, also conducted a survey and thousands of responses came in. A lot of work has been done on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Youth, of which I am a member. Through that work, we heard so much feedback. I am glad that feedback has been taken on board and changes are coming. One of the strongest messages we and the Minister heard was the need for greater choice, particularly the option of a hot or cold lunch. I am very pleased that this been addressed and from September 2027, there will be an option for children to have a hot or cold lunch. I also strongly welcome specially adapted menus for special schools and special classes, robust nutritional compliance audits with consequence for standards that are not being met and different portion sizes for different age groups because, quite simply, a sixth-class student should not be receiving the same portion as a child in junior infants. We are also going to see the procurement process examined and recipes revised. These are all very positive and practical changes. We sometimes forget how far this programme has actually come. It began as a pilot in 2017 in just 35 schools and is now in 3,200 schools, with 550,000 children benefiting every day.

We also need to remember why this matters. I was in a school in my hometown of Navan last week and the principal said to me that the children in the school are absolutely starving. Is that not heartbreaking to hear in 2026? While there are improvements being made and this announcement shows we are making them, we must also recognise the enormous positive impact of the scheme. Perfection must not become the enemy of good. This programme gives children equal access to food regardless of his or her family circumstances and that is something of which we should be incredibly proud. I also want to build on this by making sure the holiday hunger programme reaches as many children as possible next summer and that we are looking at providing support during Christmas and Easter holidays too.

Finally, I acknowledge and thank the Minister, Deputy Calleary. I am glad I got to thank him personally today. I also commend the Minister, Deputy Naughton, all the people behind the scenes, such as the interdepartmental working group, and everyone working to improve this scheme.

This has been a positive step forward. Let us keep listening, improving and, most important, feeding our children.