An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-09
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Cathy Bennett (SF), Cavan-Monaghan

We know from our engagements in our constituencies that for some children, the hot school meal scheme represents a significant portion of the food they might be given on a day. We know that one in five parents skip meals and reduce portion size in order to ensure their children have enough to eat. It is an important initiative. However, there have been issues with how the scheme has been administered. This year, we saw a last minute, four-month delay impact hundreds of primary schools. Funding, portions and size remain consistent for infants right through to sixth class, despite children's nutritional needs changing as they grow and traceability is poor.
Small local companies have told me they feel frozen out of the tendering process. It then leaves the schools having to use heating equipment to ensure the food is hot. Will the Minister undertake to address these issues?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:26+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-09