Twelve additional Donegal primary schools have been added to the Hot Meals Programme from today.
The announcement means some 2,850 Primary Schools across the country are now eligible to receive hot meals.
The Department of Education will also be engaging with any primary schools not currently signed up, to encourage them to participate.
The full list of the new Donegal schools are:
The Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, 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.
“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,” Minister Calleary said.
“It has been an extremely successful programme and I want to ensure that we continue to build on the great success of the scheme.
“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.”
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.
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