Children at biggest Laois primary school in Portlaoise to get free school meals

Thousands more Laois children are to benefit from school meals under an expansion of the  Hot Schools Meals Programme with the biggest school in Portlaoise included for first time.

Children attending the Holy Family Primary School campus in Portlaoise are on a list of 16 Laois schools included in the latest expansion of a Government driven food programme for school children.

Around 1,400 children are enrolled at the junior and senior schools at the Holy Family Campus in Portlaoise. Children in other schools in Portlaoise, Stradbally, Mountrath and other communities will also benefit.

The Government says the objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. 

In Budget 2025, it was announced that the Hot School Meals Scheme will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025. 

This is the list of schools included in the expansion announced on April 11, 2025.

• Ballinakill Mixed NS
• Cosby NS, Stradbally
• Paddock NS
• Maryboro N S Portlaoise
  Ballyfin NS
• Ballyadams N S
• Scoil Fionntan Naofa, Shanahoe
• Raithin An Uisce NS, Ratheniska
• Scoil Chomhgain Naofa, Killeshin
• Cluain Eidhneach NS, Mountrath
  Mhuire Fatima NS, Timahoe
• Naomh Padraig NS, Derrylamogue, Rosenallis
• Scoil Tíghearnach Naofa, Cullohill
• Holy Family Junior & Senior Schools, Portlaoise
• Ballyroan Primary School

Laois Government TDs Seán Fleming and Willie Aird welcomed the immediate expansion in statements to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"Practically all primary schools in the country are now included in this programme but schools must apply to the Department to be included in this scheme. Any schools not in this scheme will be contacted directly by the Department," said Dep Fleming.

He added: "The Department will be in touch with each of these schools and suppliers to make arrangements at local level".

He said a review of the nutritional standards is by a dietician would be completed soon. In the meantime he said that food that is high in saturated fat, sugar and salt is being removed from school meals and this will be in place for this September.

"I want to thank all the school in Laois who are participating this scheme for the benefit of their pupils as it is important that every pupil attending school is guaranteed a hot nutritious meal every day in school," said the Fianna Fáil TD.

Dep Aird highlighted the scheme's benefits.

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“I am proud of the Hot School Meals Programme and the positive impact it has had in schools right across the country. A hot school meal is essential for our children in terms of their physical and mental health, as well as their educational output. It makes them happier and more productive, while also giving parents peace of mind that their children are being fed while at school.

“This is a programme that was set up by Fine Gael as a pilot programme of just 30 schools – and it has gone from strength to strength over the years.

“I look forward to working with the successful schools in Laois in rolling out this scheme for the benefit of their students”, concluded the Fine Gael TD. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Minister Dara Calleary announced the expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme and Review of Nutritional Standards during a visit to St Philips Senior National School in Clonsilla, where he was joined by his Cabinet colleagues (L-R) Minister for Education Helen McEntee and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers. Pic: Maxwells 

The Government says schools which avail of funding are responsible for choosing their school meals supplier. A specific standard was set for School Meals under the Nutritional Standards for School Meals and Nutritional Standards for Hot School Meals.