School Meals Scheme
- Published on: 23 July 2019
- Last updated on: 15 April 2025
- What the School Meals Scheme is
- How to qualify
- Rates of payment
- Apply
- Contact
- Useful Links
- Operational Guidelines
- Your questions answered
The Hot School Meals will be extended to all remaining primary schools on a phased basis from April 2025
What the School Meals Scheme is
The School Meals Programme provides funding towards provision of food services for school children through two schemes:
- the statutory Urban School Meals Scheme for primary schools is operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department of Social Protection
- the non-statutory School Meals Local Projects Scheme provides funding directly from the Department of Social Protection to primary schools, secondary schools and local groups and voluntary organisations which operate their own school meals projects
How to qualify
Funding under this scheme is for food only, which must be of suitable quality and nutritional value, and prepared and consumed in an appropriate environment.
The type and range of meals provided, as well as the method and logistics of supplying the meals, are decided by the individual local groups and schools that operate the projects.
Rates of payment
Funding under the School Meals Local Projects Scheme is based on a rate of payment per meal, per child, per day.
The current rates of payment effective from 1 January 2023 are:
| Meal | Max Rate of Payment (per child per day) | Minimum number of food items | Examples of Food to be Provided |
| Breakfast/Snack | €0.75 | 2 items | 1 serving of wholemeal/wholegrain cereal or bread PLUS 1 serving of fruit OR 1 serving of milk, yogurt or cheese |
| Lunch | €1.70 | 1 substantial item + 1 small item + a drink | Wholemeal/wholegrain sandwich or roll containing 1 serving meat, poultry, egg or cheese and 1 serving salad PLUS 1 serving fruit PLUS a drink (for example: water, milk, unsweetened juice) |
| Dinner | €2.50 | Hot meal + drink | 1 serving meat, poultry, egg, beans PLUS 1 serving potatoes, pasta or rice PLUS 2 servings vegetables/fruit PLUS a drink (Milk, Water, Unsweetened Juice) |
| Hot Meal | €3.20 | Hot Meal | Per nutritional standards document |
Apply
Funding is allocated on a school year basis. An application for funding must be made each year. Applications should be submitted in advance of the commencement of the school year.
Applications for funding must be made using the Department of Social Protection application form for the School Meals Local Projects Scheme.
A separate copy of Part 2 (pages 3&4) of the form must be completed in respect of each food club you operate. For example, if a school operates a breakfast club and a lunch club, 2 separate copies of page 3 must be submitted with the application.
Schools that got funding and want to apply for the following year must also complete the Income and Expenditure form (SMLPS2).
Contact
School Meals Section
- Address:
- School Meals SWA Section, Department of Social Protection, College Road, Co. Sligo, F91 T384
- Website:
- Email:
- Telephone:
-
071 9138625
Useful Links
Operational Guidelines
Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.
Your questions answered
For more information please visit our School Meals Scheme: Your questions answered page.