Minister Calleary announces expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme and Review of Nutritional Standards
- Foilsithe: 11 Aibreán 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 11 Aibreán 2025
- an additional 713 Primary Schools to receive Hot School Meals from today
- Hot School Meals grows from small pilot of 30 schools to National Programme now in 2,850 primary schools
- over 475,000 primary school children now eligible to receive Hot School Meals
- the Minister has also announced a review of the nutritional standards and the removal of the optional food that is high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt from the school meal menus
The Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary has today announced that 713 additional primary schools have been approved for the Hot School Meals Programme.
Minister Calleary made the announcement today during a visit to St Philips Senior National School in Clonsilla, where he was joined by his Cabinet colleagues Minister for Education Helen McEntee and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers.
The announcement means some 2,850 Primary Schools across the country are now eligible to receive Hot School Meals. The department will also be engaging with any primary schools not currently signed up, to encourage them to participate.
An additional 131,700 children across 713 schools will have access to nutritious hot meals starting from today. This brings the total number of primary school children now eligible to receive a Hot School Meal every day to 475,000.
The Minister also announced that a review of the nutritional standards for the scheme will be completed by a dietician who will be supervised by the Department of Health and in coordination with the Interdepartmental Group on School Meals. The Minister has asked for a report on the nutritional standards to be submitted to him by the end of 2025.
In addition, the Minister announced the removal of food that is high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt from the programme from September 2025.
Announcing the expansion today, Minister Calleary said:
“The Hot School Meals Programme has expanded from a small pilot of just 30 schools to a nationwide programme which now makes nutritious hot meals available to all primary schools across the country. It has been an extremely successful programme and I want to ensure that we continue to build on the great success of the scheme.
“Nutritional standards are a priority for me and for the government. I have asked for a review of the scheme’s nutritional standards and this will be conducted by a dietician based out of the Department of Health. I have asked for a report on the nutritional standards be submitted to me by the end of the year.
“In the meantime, we will remove food that is high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt from the school meal menus. Up to now, this food had been permitted once a week at most and only when selected by the child’s parents. There is a lead-in time for a change like this, so it will happen by September this year.
“Under the Programme for Government we will continue to expand and improve the Hot School Meals Programme. We will also ensure that suppliers adhere to robust guidelines on the nutritional value of meals and the dietary requirements of students. We are also working to reduce food waste and utilise recyclable packaging.”
Commenting on the Hot School Meals expansion, Minister Helen McEntee said:
“The Hot School Meals Programme is having a really positive impact on students right across the country and I am delighted that it is being expanded.
“More children having hot meals will help with school attendance, help with educational outcomes for students, and above all ensure that children can learn, play and make friends without concerns about hunger.
“The removal of optional meals with higher levels of fat, sugar and salt from menus will ensure that not only will students have access to hot meals, but they will also be more nutritious as well.
“I would encourage any primary schools who are currently not taking part in the scheme to do so, as it will only benefit schools.”
The Department of Social Protection will now write to each of the 713 schools to advise them on the next steps in this regard so that their pupils will be able to avail of Hot School Meals from April 2025. The department will engage with schools and suppliers on the changes to the programme. There will also be a wider consultation process as part of the review of the nutritional standards.
The full list of 713 new Primary Schools approved for Hot School Meals from 11 April 2025 is available.
Notes
The Hot School Meals Programme was introduced as a small pilot of 30 schools. The Programme has grown significantly in recent years. Today’s announcement will bring the total number of schools with access to Hot School Meals to nearly 2,850 from 11 April 2025.
The 713 new Primary Schools approved today expressed an interest in Hot School Meals last year.
Other remaining Primary Schools will be eligible from September 2025. The department will contact all of the remaining Primary Schools who have not yet joined the Hot School Meals Programme asking them to submit expressions of interest in commencing the provision of Hot School Meals.
The objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
The Department of Social Protection provides the funding to schools for the School Meals Programme, and it is the responsibility of schools to choose their supplier in an open, fair and transparent manner in accordance with national legislation and EU directives on procurement.