Minister announces review of the School Meals Programme
RSM Ireland has been appointed by the Department of Social Protection to conduct the evaluation
A comprehensive evaluation is to be undertaken of the School Meals Programme.
The move was announced by Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD.
The Minister made the announcement today on a visit to Scoil Treasa Naofa Primary School in Dublin.
The School Meals Programme has an annual budget of over €65 million which supports over 1,500 schools and organisations nationwide and benefits over 230,000 children.
Last year four national schools in County Cavan have been added to the Hot School Meals Programme in an extension of the scheme nationwide. They included St Patrick’s National School and Fairgreen National School in Belturbet, Kilnaleck Mixed National School and Scoil Naisiunta Mhuire in Swanlinbar.
Meanwhile, Castleblayney Convent National School in Monaghan was also invited to join the Hot School Meals Programme.
RSM Ireland has been appointed by the Department of Social Protection to conduct the evaluation of the School Meals Programme with recommendations to be provided for the Minister and her Department to consider as part of Budget 2023.
“The School Meals Programme covers Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners, Cold Meals and Hot Meals.
Minister Humphreys said the Hot School Meals in particular has proven “hugely popular” and since she took office the number of schools receiving Hot School Meals has increased ten-fold from a small pilot of just 30 schools to almost 300.
“The feedback I am getting anecdotally from teachers and parents is that children prefer the Hot School Meals to the cold option.
“I know from my own experience that a child is more likely to sit down and eat a good hot meal whereas a cold sandwich can always be shoved into the bottom of the school bag.
“Given the huge positivity towards the Hot School Meals Programme, I now want to examine the option of expanding it so that more students can benefit.”
Key issues to be explored as part of the planned evaluation include whether the School Meals Programme meeting its aims, and what are the practicalities for schools of moving to a Hot School Meals option.
They will also look at how the programme can be better delivered, and the extent to which the School Meals Programme has improved school attendance and educational achievement.
Minister Humphreys added: “As Minister, I am absolutely determined to continue to expand the School Meals Programme. This comprehensive evaluation will equip my Department with the information and data we need so that we can continue to grow and support more children under this important programme.”