Press release
School Meals Programme to Continue During School Closures
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, has confirmed that funding for the School Meals Programme will remain in place during the current period of school closures.
This mirrors the arrangements that were in place during the school closures in 2020, when the majority of schools in the School Meals Programme continued to provide food to children, largely through the home delivery of food parcels by suppliers.
Minister Humphreys said:
“As Minister for Social Protection, I recognise the importance of the school meals programme as a support for school-going children. I would like to re-assure parents that the funding for school meals will continue to enable children to receive food while schools are closed.”
The arrangements will not change from when schools closed previously: namely that the schools may continue to avail of the funding and they may continue to provide food consistent with normal funding terms and conditions. Schools must ensure that they continue to satisfy all public health guidelines.
Ends.
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,557 schools and organisations benefitting 227,000 children. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. Funding of €65.1m is provided for the School Meals Programme in 2021.