More pupils in Louth set to get hot meals at school

As many as 18 more schools in Louth are set to benefit from a further expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme, it was announced last week.

Local Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly said the allocation of additional schools in Louth is part of this major expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme announced by the Government.

An additional 131,700 children across 713 schools got access to nutritious hot meals from last Friday.

This brings the total number of primary school children across the country are now eligible to receive a hot school meal every day to 475,000.

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Deputy Butterly said the allocation of additional schools in Louth is part of this major expansion of the Hot School Meals Programme announced by the Government.

Welcoming the expansion for local schools Deputy Butterly said: “I am extremely proud of the Hot School Meals Programme and the positive impact it has had in schools right across the country.

“A hot school meal does wonders 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 Louth in rolling out this scheme for the benefit of their students.”

The programme, first established by Fine Gael in 2019, will now be availed of by 2,850 Primary Schools across the country.

The Department of Social Protection said it will also be engaging with any primary schools not currently signed up, to encourage them to participate.