Children in all Louth primary schools to receive hot school meals by 2030

Children in every primary school in Ireland will receive hot school meals by 2030 if not sooner as part of a landmark plan announced by the Government, a Louth Fine Gael Deputy has said.

Local Fine Gael Deputy, Fergus O’Dowd also welcomed plans for the Hot School meals Programme to be extended to all DEIS primary schools from September.

O’Dowd said: 

“School Meals have a hugely positive effect on children’s health and wellbeing, which was reaffirmed in a report published yesterday by my colleague, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys.

“The independent evaluation recommended that hot school meals be extended to all DEIS primary schools from September, in addition to one free hot meal for every child in Ireland to be introduced on a phased basis by 2030.

“I’m delighted that Minister Humphreys is implementing the recommendations with a massive expansion of the hot school meals programme, which means by the end of this year, 1,000 schools nationwide will be receiving hot meals.

“From 2024, the roll-out of hot meals to all remaining primary schools will start on a phased basis, targeted at being implemented before the recommended time frame of 2030.

“When the Minister was appointed to her role in June 2020, there were just 30 schools receiving hot school meals, but today, almost 500 benefit from the hot school meals programme.

“Research indicates that the provision of school meals resulted in improvements in attendance in school, with evidence that providing children with food in school is making a difference to families in terms of money saved, and for some families, in time saved on food preparation.

O’Dowd added:

“The long term target of all primary schools to be included by 2030 will also address some of the current inequalities where neighbouring schools have both DEIS and non DEIS status and siblings are spread across both schools.

“This is the case for Scoil na Trocaire in Ardee today where it is the only non-DEIS school in the town. This has led to a number of families in Ardee making lunches for their daughters whilst their sons receive a meal in the neighbouring DEIS school. 

“This is a matter I have recently raised with the Minister for Education and subsequently with the Ombudsman for Children and I will continue to support the school in their campaign for equality.