Louth schools encouraged to apply for hot school meal programme

Louth Fine Gael TD, Fergus O’Dowd, has confirmed that a total of 21 primary schools are now approved for the hot school meal programme in County Louth.

O’Dowd said “Whilst the list in County Louth is promising I would strongly encourage any remaining primary schools who have not yet joined the scheme to express an interest in the Hot School Meals Programme at the earliest opportunity.

“This is a wonderful programme which has been spearheaded by my colleague the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, and I know this programme is already making an impact on the ground since it was launched as a pilot five years ago.

“Over 316,000 children can now receive a nutritious, hot meal during their school day as a result of this positive government decision which is contributing to the wellbeing of children across Ireland."

O’Dowd added: “In June 2020, there were 30 schools receiving hot meals. Today’s announcement means that from today there are over 2,000 primary schools able to benefit from hot school meals. Every school that submitted an expression of interest has been brought into the scheme.

“The Minister is now opening a new round of expressions of interest to allow for the opportunity of hot school meals from September and I hope remaining schools will get their submission in as early as possible.”

Minister Heather Humphreys stated:

“My ambition is that every primary school child in the country will be receiving a hot meal in 2025. This is well ahead of our original target to make hot school meals universal in primary schools by 2030.”

List of school under the Hot School Meals Programme in County Louth as of the April:

Aston Village Educate Together National School 20294I

Ballapousta Ns 01554B

Bellurgan N S 16249E

Dromin N S 06576N

Dromiskin Mixed N S 16760M

Faughart Community National School 18391R

Knockbridge Mixed N S 15101N

Le Cheile Educate Together Ns 20146Q

S N Aonghusa 19740V

S N Bhride 17965M

S N Columcille 01434O

S N Mhuire Na Trocaire 18099V

S N Muire 18101F

S N Naomh Fhionain 17952D

S N Naomh Peadar 11072M

S N Talamh Na Manach 18312S

Scoil Bhride 18382Q

Scoil Naomh Fainche 14578N

St Olivers Ns 02322I

St. Francis National School 20259G

Walshestown N S 03787L