Pupils set for hot meal boost at Laois schools
Pupils attending Laois schools that are deemed to need extra help as part of achieving equality in operation are set to benefit hot meals without charge from September 2020.
As a result of €14.5 million allocated by the Government to ensure that all remaining Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS) primary schools will receive hot meals from September 2023.
Minister of State, Department of Foreign Affairs, Seán Fleming made the announcement of extra money in the Dáil on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys.
Minister Fleming said the additional funding will ensure that every DEIS primary school in the country will have access to the Hot School Meals scheme, from September 2023.
"Some of the schools were already in receipt of hot meals but the Laois list was expanded substantially last year and all of the DEIS schools will now be included," said a statment from Minister Fleming.
Minister Fleming also announced that all special schools throughout the country will be included in the Hot Meals Programme which means that St Francis Special School in Portlaoise will be included in the Hot School Meals programme.
He said the Hot School Meals programme has been expanded from 37 schools throughout the country to 900 schools during the term of this Government.
He added that the total funding available for this scheme this year is €108.9 million and this is a 76% increase in the funding that was available in 2020, before this Government was formed.
"The priority for this Government is to ensure the Hot School Meals programme is aimed at primary schools with no onsite cooking facilities. The Government recently commissioned an evaluation of the school meals programme to review all elements of this scheme. This report has been finalised recently and is currently under consideration by the Government," said a statement.
The 15 DEIS primary schools in Laois are:
- Scoil Bhride NS, Knockmay, Portlaoise
- St Joseph’s Girls NS, Mountmellick.
- St Fintans NS, Mountrath
- Scoil Bhride NS, Mountrath
- Mountmellick Boys NS
- Wolfhill NS
- Crettyard NS
- Spink NS
- The Swan NS
- The Rock NS
- Barnashrone NS
- Arles NS
- Scoil Bhride NS, Rathdowney
- Scoil Bhride NS, Clonaslee
- Ardough NS, Rossmore
It forms part of the Department of Education social inclusion strategy called DEIS to help children and young people who are at risk of or who are experiencing educational disadvantage.