An additional €14.5 million to ensure that all remaining DEIS primary schools will receive hot meals from September 2023 has been allocated.
DEIS refers to the Delivering Equality of opportunities In Schools programme.
Minister for State Sean Fleming confirmed the news while speaking in Dáil Eireann on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, during a debate in relation to the provision of hot meals to DEIS schools.
In addition to this, Minister Fleming also announced that all special schools throughout the country will be included in the Hot Meals Programme.
This means that St Francis Special School in Portlaoise will be included in the Hot School Meals programme also.
The Government’s press release commits to making The Hot School Meals programme available in 900 schools during their term.
The Laois TD said: “The total funding available for this scheme this year is €108.9 million and this is a 76% increase in the funding that was available in 2020,before this Government was formed.
“The priority for this Government is to ensure the Hot School Meals programme is aimed at primary schools with no onsite cooking facilities.
“The Government recently commissioned an evaluation of the school meals programme to review all elements of this scheme. This report has been finalised recently and is currently under consideration by the Government.”
Some of the Laois schools were already in receipt of hot meals but the list was expanded substantially last year and all 15 of the DEIS schools will now be included.
They are:
- Scoil Bhride N.S. Knockmay, Portlaoise
- St Joseph’s Girls N.S. Mountmellick
- St Fintans N.S. Mountrath
- Scoil Bhride N.S. Mountrath
- Mountmellick Boys N.S.
- Wolfhill N.S.
- Crettyard N.S.
- Spink N.S.
- The Swan N.S.
- The Rock N.S.
- Barnashrone N.S.
- Arles N.S.
- Scoil Bhride N.S. Rathdowney
- Scoil Bhride N.S. Clonaslee
- Ardough N.S. Rossmore
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