Senator Aisling Dolan - Strong Voice, New Vision.

Hot school meals cooking up a success for more schools in Roscommon

July 31, 2024

Hot school meals cooking up a success for  more schools in Roscommon

Hot school meals cooking up a success for  more schools in Roscommon - Dolan

More schools in County Roscommon are to receive hot school meals from September.

Senator Aisling Dolan said the news from Minister Heather Humphreys’ department was a great boost to pupils and students ahead of the next school term.

Across the country, over 345,000 primary school children are now eligible to receive hot school meals.

The programme to support families was set up by Fine Gael in 2019.

The programme forms part of Ireland's commitment under the European Child Guarantee to give all children access to a range of key services, including healthcare and nutrition. This is a way to support families and children with a hot nutritious meal in school.

It was initially introduced by Fine Gael Minister Regina Doherty in 2019 as a pilot measure to 30 schools and now under Minister Heather Humphreys the scheme stretches to 2,200 primary schools across the country. This shows the commitment from my party, Fine Gael, to ensure every child has the best start in life.

And we won’t stop. I want more schools across Roscommon to have the programme extended to them as soon as possible and working with Minister Humphreys, we will make that happen.

Over 40 schools in Roscommon have hot school meals and from September boys and girls in Castlesampson National School in Taughmaconnell and Scoil Mhuire national school in Ballyleague will also roll this out.

I’ve spoken to parents and teachers who say that it is a great success. Parents have one less task during the rush in the morning when getting children ready for school. Access to school meals is a way to improve pupils and students attention and focus during school hours. Boys & girls were telling me their favourite meal with some having tacos as a choice – getting to experience international cuisine too!,” Senator Aisling Dolan said.

Minister Humphreys said: “My ambition now is to finish the job as part of this year’s Budget and ensure that every primary school in Ireland is providing hot school meals in 2025.

 fiIrmly believe the roll-out of hot school meals to every primary school in the country will be one of the lasting legacies of this Government.

The Department of Social Protection will now write to each of the 168 schools to advise them on the next steps in this regard to allow schools time to prepare so that their pupils will be able to avail of Hot School Meals from September 2024.

 

ENDS

Contact: Aisling Dolan 086 3690719