Free hot dinners announced for 28 more Laois schools

Free hot school dinners are to be made available to an extra 28 Laois schools, under the widening of the Government's Hot School Meals programme.

The primary schools, listed at the end of our story, will now be contacted by the Department of Social Protection to alert them that they are eligible to sign up for the programme, and advise them on the next steps.

It will begin next April, 2024.

Sean Fleming TD, Minister of State, welcomes the 28 additional Laois schools that will now be eligible for the Hot School Meals programme from April 2024.

"The children in these Laois schools will be able to benefit from hot meals at school every day. This is part of the Government’s plan to roll out this programme to all primary schools in Ireland. 

"I encourage all of those primary schools in Laois who are now eligible, to participate in this scheme," Minister Fleming said.

The Government has rapidly increased the number of eligible schools nationwide from 30 to 1400 schools since 2020. 

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The additional Laois national schools now eligible for the Hot School Meals programme are: 

Abbeyleix Sth, Camross NS, Castletown NS, Cill An Iubhair NS, Cloch An Tsionnaigh NS, Emo Mixed NS, Fraoch Mor NS, Gaelscoil An Tsli Dala, Gaelscoil Phort Laoise, Kiladooley Mixed NS, Naomh Pius X NS, Ballyroan, Our Ladys Meadow National School, Portlaoise Educate Together NS, Rath Mixed NS, Rosenallis NS, Rush Hall Mixed NS, SN Naomh Colmcille, SN Naomh Eoin, Scoil Mhuire, Scoil Mhuire Muigheo, Scoil Mhuire Naofa Castlecuffe, Scoil Padraig, Scoil Phadraig, Shanganamore N S
St Joseph's National School, St Pauls N S, Tobar An Leinn, Trumera NS.