TDs ‘heartened’ at extension of free hot school meals

MACROOM TDS Aindrias Moynihan (FF) and Michael Creed (FG) have welcomed the extension of the free hot school meals programme to a further 900 primiaries nationwide this week.

150,000 extra children will now benefit from the nutritious hot meals, with remaining schools free to apply for inclusion from September next, Deputy Moynihan advised.

“I’m heartened to see the extension of this hugely important scheme providing hot, nutritious meals to pupils while at school,” Deputy Moynihan said.

“An additional 150,000 students will benefit due to the expansion, bringing the total number of pupils benefiting from a free hot school meal each school day to more than 300,000.”

The Cork North West TD added:

“The expansion of the Hot School Meals programme has been a priority for Fianna Fáil in Government and its expansion has been supported by the Department of Education under my Fianna Fáil colleague, Minister for Education Norma Foley.

“There are now 2,000 primary schools taking part in the scheme and I would encourage any school that had not previously signed up and are interested in doing so to apply. A new round of expressions of interest has been opened.”

Former Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed said he was ‘delighted’ with the extension of the scheme:

“I’m delighted with today’s announcement that the Hot School Meals Programme has been expanded to serve 2,000 schools nationwide.

“Any remaining primary schools in County Cork which have not yet joined the scheme can now express an interest to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme with effect from September.

“I would urge school principals to get that process under way as soon as possible.”

“We in Fine Gael have always believed that every child deserves the best start in life. Providing hot meals in schools is a significant step towards ensuring that, and it is a great support for families in more ways than one,” he said, adding:

“Heather Humphreys has grown the programme significantly in recent years and over 2,000 primary schools are now eligible to receive a hot meal with plans to include additional schools later this year.

“Last year, Minister Humphreys signalled her intention to rollout the Hot School Meals Programme to all primary schools.

“Applications for the Hot School Meals Programme were received from some 900 primary schools, and from today these schools are participating in the Hot School Meals Programme,” Deputy Creed said.

“Her initial target was that every primary school child in the country would be receiving a hot meal in 2030, but now this will be achieved in 2025 - a full five years earlier,” Deputy Creed said.