According to new figures, 78,000 children nationwide have been using the government-funded breakfast clubs in schools.
The Department of Social Protection has funded 700 breakfast clubs with a combined total €7 million in the past year, which is a 50% increase in funds compared to previous years.
The four highest funded counties are; Dublin (€2,429,819), Donegal (€562,117), Cork (€535,496).
The sole focus of the breakfast clubs is to provide children in need with nutritious food so as they may avail of the educational tools provided to them.
A Tipperary TD, Mattie McGrath, spoke out about the issue, saying; “I would appeal to the Minister to increase the existing spend of €6,963,345 so that we can ensure that absolutely no child need go hungry before the start of the school day.”
He described “the level of demand for the school meals programme as a disturbing barometer of child poverty levels which currently exist across the state.”
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