Westmeath suppliers for Education Department HQ canteen

Two Westmeath suppliers provide the majority of the meat available for staff at the Department of Education and Skills in Athlone.

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills, Hildegarde Naughton, if the canteen in the Department headquarters could provide assurances that all meat sold or provided in that canteen is of Irish origin.

In her reply Minister Naughton said: “My Department operate a canteen service on our campus in Athlone. The current service providers are a local company A Slice Of Life Catering.”

The bacon, rashers and pudding originating in Northern Ireland comes from Lawlors Foods Athlone, the chicken from Germany is supplied by Casey Foods, while the meat, beef and mince is from Ireland and supplied by Gillivans Butchers in Moate, the pork sausages are produced using EU pork by Loughnanes of Galway.