Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I say to Deputy Murnane O'Connor that the hot school meals programme is running in 31 schools in Carlow, covering 5,639 children.

In response to Deputy Wynne, Ennis Community School was brought to my attention. I was obviously very conscious the amalgamation, involving some DEIS and some non-DEIS schools - that was the secondary school. We were able to provide that support and solution at the time. We have to continue to work with them and I am happy to do what we can. It is important that children are treated equally.

We had planned to have the programme rolled out to all primary schools by 2030 but I am glad to say that it has gone much quicker than was initially anticipated and I am very keen to drive on. We hope that by the end of 2025 all children in primary schools will be getting a hot school meal. I urge those schools that have not been in touch to please get in touch. I am sure the children will do the talking because somebody will be getting a hot school meal in one school and somebody else will not be getting it in another. That is the way the news gets out. As I said, I am totally supportive of it.

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