Pupils at eight more Tipperary schools are to be given hot meals in school
Senator Garret Ahearn welcomes the inclusion of eight more schools
An additional eight schools in Tipperary are to receive hot school meals from September, a Fine Gael
Senator has said.
Senator Garret Ahearn said the news from Minister Heather Humphreys department was a great boost
to pupils and students ahead of the next school term.
Across the country, over 345,000 primary school children are now eligible to receive hot school meals.
The scheme which was set up by Fine Gael in 2019.
“The programme forms part of Ireland[scommitment under the European Child Guarantee to give all
children access to a range of key services, including healthcare and nutrition. It is a great scheme and
is very beneficial for primary school children here in county Tipperary,” Senator Garret Ahearn said.
“It was initially introduced by Fine Gael Minister Regina Doherty in 2019 as a pilot measure to 30
schools and now under Minister Heather Humphreys the scheme stretches to 2,200 primary schools
across the country. This shows the commitment from my party, Fine Gael, to ensure every child has the
best start in life.
“And we won’t stop. I want more schools across Tipperary to have the programme extended to them as
soon as possible and working with Minister Humphreys, we will make that happen.
“It is a great success and welcomed by pupils, parents and teachers,” Senator Garret Ahearn said.
Minister Humphreys said: “My ambition now is to finish the job as part of this year’s Budget and ensure
that every primary school in Ireland is providing hot school meals in 2025.
“I firmly believe the roll-out of hot school meals to every primary school in the country will be one of the
lasting legacies of this Government.”
The eight schools are St Mary's Parochial School,Killusty NS, SN Rath Eilte, SN na Hinse,Carrig NS, SN Cill Chuimin, Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal and Rear NS.
The Department of Social Protection will now write to each of the 168 schools to advise them on the
next steps in this regard to allow schools time to prepare so that their pupils will be able to avail of Hot
School Meals from September 2024.