Students in Presentation Primary School, Portarlington and St. Abban’s Primary School, Killeen, will receive hot meals from September under the Hot School Meals programme.
This announcement from Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has been welcomed by Local TDs Sean Fleming and Charlie Flanagan as the number of Laois schools receiving meals jumps to 50.
Since September 2023, the Hot School Meals programme has been available to all DEIS primary schools across the country.
However since April, the scheme has been expanded to some schools outside of the DEIS initiative.
Sean Fleming said: “This is very welcome news for both schools in Portarlington and Killeen. The schoolchildren will now be able to benefit from meals at school and relieve some pressure on local families.
“The majority of schools in Laois are part of this programme and I am committed to rolling out this programme to all remaining primary schools in Laois for the benefit of all local communities in the County.”
Charlie Flangan has echoed the sentiments of his fellow TD after the announcement was made by Heather Humprheys this morning.
He said: ”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.
“It is a great scheme and is very beneficial for primary school children here in County.
“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.
“And we won’t stop. I want more schools across Laois to have the programme extended to them as soon as possible and working with Minister Humphreys, we will make that happen.”
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