School Meals Programme: Statements
Seanad Éireann — 2026-09-30
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Dara Calleary (FF), Mayo

Gabhaim buíochas le gach Seanadóir as an díospóireacht úsáideach seo agus a dtuairimí ar scéim na mbéilí scoile. I think there seems to be broad agreement across the House about the significant support to children and to families the hot school meals scheme is. It addresses child poverty and it addresses nutrition. The debate reflects a shared commitment across the House to ensuring that every child has access to nutritious food during the school day and that no child who is disadvantaged because of hunger or food insecurity has to put their hand up, as Senator Nelson Murray said.
Our reports provide us with a strong evidence base for the next development of the scheme. Importantly, they confirm that the hot school meals scheme is working. It is delivering real benefits for children, for families, for parents, as Senator Clifford-Lee has said, and for schools across the country. The overall programme reaches almost 682,000 children and delivers up to 3.4 million meals each week. Anybody who is stressed about planning one lunch of a night should think about planning 3.4 million meals every single week. Yes, there will be challenges with that volume. I want to acknowledge Senator Tully, as I meant to do in my opening remarks, and give my thanks to the Joint Committee on Education and Youth for the huge work they did in this space. Some 682,000 children and 3.4 million meals is a significant outturn. The findings of the reports show a high level of support among parents, children and schools, with the vast majority reporting that they enjoy their meals. The schools recognise the positive impact the school meals scheme is having. I also want to place on record my thanks to school communities and the school leadership teams. Senator Tully has pointed out the challenges of the procurement system. That is something we try to make easier but it is taxpayers' money and we have a responsibility. We are very conscious of that as well.
Senator Rabbitte rightly referred to the challenges being faced by schools on the Loop Head Peninsula as they seek to access the scheme. This time last year we had 112 rural schools, similar to the four schools in Loop Head that she mentioned, which did not have access to the scheme. As a result of the work of the team in my Department, we have brought that number down to 12. There is a lot of work going on in that space and in that area in trying to come up with a solution that works. We want this scheme to be given to and have access in every primary school.
I will reflect on the improvements. We will introduce a standardised meal cycle that will ensure consistency in nutritional standards. It will allow parents to plan. We have to improve the fruit, vegetable and wholegrain content of meals. We have to ensure that the vegetarian and vegan options provide sufficient protein and that there are options available for those with different dietary requirements. We have to deliver age-appropriate portion sizes. We must tackle food waste and packaging waste. I put it to Senators Noonan and Tully that this is built into the procurement space in terms of how we minimise the packaging but it is definitely something we are very conscious of. We are focused on that cold meal. With regard to Senator Nelson Murray's comments, let us not confuse a cold meal with an unhealthy meal, and a hot meal likewise. There is certainly a big need for that.
We are not putting these reports on shelves to come back to in ten years. We have started the work already. When we launched the report, our officials were briefing the main suppliers in a simultaneous exercise. We will begin the work of implementing the recommendations and keep in touch and in communication with them. Clearer instructions will issue to suppliers on immediately addressing portion size, on improving fruit, wholegrain and vegetable content, and on the standardised menu cycle. We are also examining the hot and cold food options ahead of the academic year beginning in 2027.
Nutrition will be key, as will the work in terms of partnerships with schools, suppliers and other Government Departments.
School food waste is a major challenge, but it always was. That was one of the reassuring aspects of the parent survey in particular. Approximately 42% of the 80,000 parents who responded said that food waste was always a challenge. It was touched on by all Senators in terms of their personal experience. That is not to say we are taking it lightly. Factors including absenteeism, menu preferences and meal choices are going to be crucial in that.
On Senator Scahill’s point about the app and ease of cancelling meals, that is a challenge because we have to look at the procurement models as well. I agree 100% in terms of local input. Personally, I would prefer local, community and not-for-profit models, ideally. Given where we have come from, we have a very good basis in relation to this programme.
I have to say that if Senators had told me at the end of January 2025, when I became Minister for Social Protection, that we would be spending as much time as we have dealing with school meals, hot or otherwise, I probably would have looked at them strangely. It is such an important investment from our Department. I owe it to my two predecessors, and to the officials who have worked incredibly hard, to drive it on.
In terms of Senator Noonan's suggestion, I cannot speak to venison but I agree that local food content is important. Yes, in a fishing community, they should have fish. That comes to protein, nutrients and dealing with so many of the areas.
Senator Tully mentioned the holiday hunger programme, which is something we did this year. We funded it in conjunction with the Department of education in some schools around the country. I will get the Senator a note on it. We are in the middle of budget discussions around it again for next year. It is absolutely crucial, particularly in schools for children with additional needs, that we keep that connection through the summer period.
As I said, this has been a very useful discussion. A dietician from our Department who is based in the Department of Health will be briefing the education spokespeople of the parties and the Chair of the committee tomorrow, if Senators wish to come along to that. It will be a very interesting conversation. There will be an opportunity to get her perspective and engage with her on what she has come across and what we need to do. As I said, we have an implementation plan. We are engaging with suppliers and school communities. It is inevitable that these changes will not happen overnight, but we are on a trajectory and travelling a road in relation to this programme which will enhance it and ensure that the overall benefits are retained while we address many of the challenges. Gabhaim buíochas le gach Seanadóir. Bhí sé usáideach cloisteáil uathu. Táimid ar thuras an clár seo a dhéanamh níos fearr agus tá sé sin mar thosaíocht dom agus don Rialtas.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-09-30/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-30