Each primary school participating in the pilot project will be expected to provide a menu choice.

School meals project appeal

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has written to all primary schools (over 3,000) seeking expressions of interest in its Hot School Meals Scheme Project, an initiative to provide a hot meal to primary school children on a pilot basis from September 2019. 

 

As part of Budget 2019, Minister Regina Doherty announced that hot dinners will be provided on a pilot basis in up to 36 schools and to some 7,200 children from September 2019 at a cost of €1m for 2019 and €2.5m in a full year. Funding will be provided to schools to source suppliers and families will not be asked for additional contributions towards the meals.

 

The Pilot Project will build on the experience of the proof-of-concept project which has been running at Our Lady of Lourdes National School in Inchicore, Dublin 8 since January 2019.  During this initial pilot almost 250 pupils attending this school receive a hot meal at lunchtime each day and the initiative has been well received.   

 

 

The proof-of-concept project in Our Lady of Lourdes National School in Inchicore has provided valuable learning and insights to assist the rolling out of a wider pilot. Some of the benefits from the experience in Inchicore include:

 

 

 

 

 

For schools already participating in the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection’s School Meals Programme, it is intended that the hot meal will replace the lunch/dinner option for the duration of the school year commencing in September 2019.

In order to be considered for the pilot project a primary school must identify a supplier who will supply (prepare and deliver) the hot meals in line with HACCP and food safety regulations in compliance with the Healthy Ireland 'Nutrition Standards for School Meals’. 

Each primary school participating in the pilot project will be expected to provide a menu choice of at least two different meals per day plus a Vegetarian/Vegan and an option that caters for students’ religious and cultural dietary requirements. Schools that are interested in participating in the initiative have until June 12th to apply.

All expressions of interest received will be considered by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and 36 schools will be selected to participate.