Approximately 3,200 primary schools are now eligible for the School Meals programme, meaning 550,000 Irish children will have a hot lunch provided to them during their school day.
Originally for DEIS-designated schools only, the programme expanded in 2024 to include all primary schools. According to the Department of Social Protection, 300 schools are not yet signed up but are being encouraged to do so.
Participating primary schools apply for Government funding for the programme each year and are responsible for sourcing their own hot lunch provider through the public procurement system.
Last year, Irish Country Living found that while many parents were happy with school lunches being provided to their children, others were not satisfied; noting concerns around the lack of nutritional information and ingredient sourcing.
Some rural primary schools also reported a lack of interest from catering companies, with some only receiving one response to their tender.
“All schools who wish to avail of funding are responsible for choosing their school meals supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules,”
a Department representative
stated in correspondence with Irish Country Living.
“The Schools Procurement Unit, which is grant funded by the Department of Education, provides guidance to schools for all procurement matters pertaining to the School Meals programme.”
In recent weeks, the Government announced they will be putting the programme under review to address these concerns around nutritional content.
Current nutritional standards were developed by a working group led by the health and wellbeing programme in the Department of Health, in consultation with Safefood and the Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme from the HSE.
Schools must agree to monitor the food to ensure these guidelines are being met. These standards are available to all schools, organisations and suppliers and are publicly available on the Government website gov.ie.
“As announced by Minister Calleary on 11 April, a review of these nutritional standards will be completed by a Department of Health dietician funded by the Department of Social Protection,” the representative says. “A report will be due to the minister by the end of the year (2025).”
In addition to this review, the Minister recently announced the removal of food that is high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt from the programme from September 2025. Up to now, this food had been permitted once a week (at most) and only when selected by a child’s parents.
Have your say
Rural schools face unique challenges in many areas, and this is certainly true when it comes to the provision of the hot school lunches.
A year on, what has your experience been with the School Meals programme? Irish Country Living wants to hear from our readers. To have your say, scan the QR code with your phone which will lead you to our questionnaire.
Read more
Special report: lifting the lid on the Hot School Meals Programme
Sourcing Irish-only food for school meals breaches EU rules - Humphreys
Approximately 3,200 primary schools are now eligible for the School Meals programme, meaning 550,000 Irish children will have a hot lunch provided to them during their school day.
Originally for DEIS-designated schools only, the programme expanded in 2024 to include all primary schools. According to the Department of Social Protection, 300 schools are not yet signed up but are being encouraged to do so.
Participating primary schools apply for Government funding for the programme each year and are responsible for sourcing their own hot lunch provider through the public procurement system.
Last year, Irish Country Living found that while many parents were happy with school lunches being provided to their children, others were not satisfied; noting concerns around the lack of nutritional information and ingredient sourcing.
Some rural primary schools also reported a lack of interest from catering companies, with some only receiving one response to their tender.
“All schools who wish to avail of funding are responsible for choosing their school meals supplier on the open market, in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules,”
a Department representative
stated in correspondence with Irish Country Living.
“The Schools Procurement Unit, which is grant funded by the Department of Education, provides guidance to schools for all procurement matters pertaining to the School Meals programme.”
In recent weeks, the Government announced they will be putting the programme under review to address these concerns around nutritional content.
Current nutritional standards were developed by a working group led by the health and wellbeing programme in the Department of Health, in consultation with Safefood and the Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme from the HSE.
Schools must agree to monitor the food to ensure these guidelines are being met. These standards are available to all schools, organisations and suppliers and are publicly available on the Government website gov.ie.
“As announced by Minister Calleary on 11 April, a review of these nutritional standards will be completed by a Department of Health dietician funded by the Department of Social Protection,” the representative says. “A report will be due to the minister by the end of the year (2025).”
In addition to this review, the Minister recently announced the removal of food that is high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt from the programme from September 2025. Up to now, this food had been permitted once a week (at most) and only when selected by a child’s parents.
Have your say
Rural schools face unique challenges in many areas, and this is certainly true when it comes to the provision of the hot school lunches.
A year on, what has your experience been with the School Meals programme? Irish Country Living wants to hear from our readers. To have your say, scan the QR code with your phone which will lead you to our questionnaire.
Read more
Special report: lifting the lid on the Hot School Meals Programme
Sourcing Irish-only food for school meals breaches EU rules - Humphreys
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