34 local schools approved for Hot School Meals Programme
An additional 900 primary schools across the country have been approved for the Hot School Meals programme from next year, including 34 in Westmeath.
The 34 Westmeath schools now qualifying are: Ardnagrath NS, Athlone NS, Ballinahown NS, S N Bhride Ballynacargy, Castlepollard Parochial NS, Clonbonny NS, Clonmellon NS, Coralstown NS, Crowenstown NS, Dalystown NS, Drumraney NS, Dysart NS, Gaelscoil an Choilín Mullingar, Scoil an Chlochair Kilbeggan, Kilcleagh NS, Kilpatrick NS, An Ghrianan NS Mount Temple, SN Aodha Naofa Rahugh, Scoil Mhuire Taughmon, St Anne’s NS Tyrrellspass, St Clare’s NS Tubberclare, St Colmcille's NS Gainstown,St Ernan’s NS Delvin, St Michael’s NS Castletown Geoghegan, St Brigid’s Moate, St Etchen’s Killucan, St Feighan’s Mixed NS Fore, St Oliver Plunkett NS Moate, St Tola’s NS Delvin, St Dermot’s NS Whitehall, St Cremin’s NS Multyfarnham, SN Phadraig Killucan, Scoil Ciarain Baylin, and Tang NS.
Announcing on Tuesday last that there were 900 extra schools joining the programme, which will benefit 150,000 children, the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD said she is determined to expand the programme to every primary school in Ireland.
“My ambition is that a child born in Ireland today will be guaranteed access to a hot meal by the time they start school,” Minister Humphreys said.
She stated that when she was appointed Minister for Social Protection in June 2020, there were 30 schools receiving hot meals. With the addition of the extra 900, there will be over 1,400 schools benefiting from hot school meals by April of next year.
The Department of Social Protection provides the funding to schools for the School Meals Programme and the schools are then to choose their supplier in an open, fair and transparent manner in accordance with national legislation and EU directives on procurement.
The department explained that it will now write to each of these schools to advise them what to do next to prepare so that their pupils will be able to avail of hot meals from April 2024.