Laois pre-school services to benefit from lunch scheme

Laois pre-school services are set to benefit from a new Bia Blasta lunch scheme which has been unveiled to support children in disadvantaged areas. Sixteen pre-school services in Laois will receive funding to provide local children with a nutritious meal while attending early learning and care services.

They include: Birchgrove Childcare (Laois Partnership Company), Graiguecullen Parish Childcare Centre CLG, Kiddiecare Early Years Childcare, Laois International School, Lisduff Adventure Farm, Lisgorm services ltd t/a Leanbh mo Chroi, Majella's Montessori SchoolMaples 2, Mountmellick Youth & Family Resource Centre, O'Moore Place Childcare, Ria's Kids Academy, Suaimhneas Community Childcare, The Hive @ Maples, The Orchard Childminding Service, Tir Na Nog and Tots and Co. Playschool.

Bia Blasta (Delicious Food) is a €4.2 million programme that will provide nutritious daily lunches to 25,000 preschool children in disadvantaged areas. The scheme is part of Equal Start, delivering real support where it’s needed most. The  €4.2 million Bia Blasta lunch scheme was launched by Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley TD.

It will tackle child food poverty, reducing the risk of children going hungry or missing meals. It will also ensure they learn about and enjoy nutritious foods, with the help of a dedicated dietitian to advise and support participating services.

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Announcing the new Bia Blasta programme, Minister Foley said: “There is very strong evidence that giving nutritious lunches to children in disadvantaged areas will combat the risk of hunger as well as improving their attention levels and overall wellbeing."Bia Blasta is another very positive initiative under the Equal Start model, which is delivering crucial supports to children attending early learning and care and school age childcare in disadvantaged areas.

"My special thanks to all of the dedicated early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners working to deliver this model."

A total of €3.2 million is available to deliver the programme in 2025. €1m is also being made available up to the end of this year for services participating in Bia Blasta to purchase approved items up to a value of €1,000 per service to enable them to deliver the pre-school nutrition programme. This will include equipment such as a fridge, freezer, dishwasher, hob, or oven.