Hot school meals not feeding children on special diets - Laois councillor

Laois schoolchildren with special dietary needs are being "left out" at lunchtime by the free school meals programme, a local councillor claims.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan from the Portlaoise Municipal District has called on Minister Dara Calleary and Minister Helen McEntee, to ask that the School Meals Scheme accommodate children with special dietary requirements.

A primary teacher himself, Cllr Mulligan explained the problem, after tabling a motion with his request to the September meeting of Laois County Council.

"This was introduced in 2019 and now includes almost all primary schools with 550,000 children in theory receiving meals, costing €325 million every year or €3.10 per child per day.

"Of course I support it but there are a few flaws, and serious problems. Many families have had a negative experience with the suitability and quality. They can lack variety and nutrition. Some are heavily processed and there is large wastage.

"There wasn't enough consultation with school staff and dieticians. It didn't have guidelines for children with special needs. Temple Street's metabolic dietician requested to be consulted but they weren't brought into the conversation. They look after approximately 450 children who suffer with PKU, galactosemia, allergies and medical diets.

"It's not fair on the child being left out.  There is no provision for children on specialised diets. Can we ask the Ministers for this? 

"It's very difficult for a child seeing all their peers having their hot meals and they have no options, every child should be treated equally.

"There are over 10 providers and they need to be mandated to provide for those children that already feel left out," Cllr Mulligan said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley seconded the motion.

"There is also children with obesity, colitis and diabetes. By the time they get to adolescence they can be on medication for diabetes," she said.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly also emphasised the waste food being thrown away.

"The Department should have another look," he said.

The Leinster Express / Laois Live recently reported the huge cost of feeding children at two large Portlaoise schools.

Cllr Aisling Moran said there is "a rise in bowel and stomach cancer in young people". 

"There is a rise in processed food, allergies to gluten and vegetarians," she said.

Laois County Council will now request that the Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary and Minister for Education Helen McEntee make the changes to the School Meals Scheme.