School Meals Programme

650. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that initially subscribed to the hot school meals schemes in 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of persons that have now opted out. [61006/25]

651. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools that did not opt in to the hot meals schemes in 2025; and the number of schools that have opted out of the schemes in 2024 and 2025. [61007/25]

1156. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children in primary schools in receipt of hot dinners; the number of children who have opted out of meals; the means by which companies are funded when children opt out; whether the provider will still receive payments for children who have opted to receive no meals; if his Department monitors the number of children…

1162. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review correspondence regarding the decision to deny funding for a school breakfast club (details supplied); if he will address the concerns raised about the impact this decision may have on students' well-being and participation in education; if he will outline any alternative funding streams, grant opportunities, or for…

1163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 663 of 14 October 2025, the reason the changes outlined in the procurement documents are prohibiting smaller schools from accessing school lunches (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58068/25]

1173. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection if a State-funded primary school may refuse to participate in the free school meals programme; the circumstances in which it may decide to refuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58363/25]

1174. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of primary schools that have refused to participate in the free school meals programme; the percentage this amount is of the total number of primary schools in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58364/25]

1222. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools affected by the withdrawal of hot school meal provision by county, in tabular form; the number of pupils effected in each county in tabular form; the steps the Government will take to provide meal reheating facilities to the schools which need same; the timeframe for same; the provisions the government wil…

217. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the procurement and certification standards applied to meat and poultry products supplied under the free school meals and school lunch schemes; if halal-certified meat is being used as a default standard by State-contracted caterers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55681/25]

218. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether her Department requires lunch providers participating in the free school meals programme to inform schools and parents if meat products are halal-certified; and if she will consider introducing mandatory labelling or disclosure rules to ensure transparency and parental awareness. [55682/25]

219. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has undertaken any assessment of whether the use of halal-certified meat in school meals is compatible with the principles of religious neutrality in State-funded education [55683/25]

220. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of approved school meal contractors currently supplying halal-certified meat or poultry products under Department-funded school lunch schemes. [55684/25]

221. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection whether schools or parents are given any option to request non-halal meat or vegetarian alternatives within the free school meals programme; and if not, the reasons. [55685/25]

355. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Health if she will conduct a review of the school meals and place mandatory minimum nutritional and quality guidelines in place for service providers when contracting with individual schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56018/25]

663. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a school (details supplied) and many other smaller rural schools are being disregarded in the provision of hot school meals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55130/25]

241. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures being taken to reduce the level of waste under the hot school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54282/25]

339. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the full cost of providing hot school meals at primary and secondary level; if he has carried out a review of the levels of waste involved in this scheme, including food waste and non recyclable waste; if he has examined more cost efficient and environmentally friendly ways of providing hot meals; if a review has been carried out …

380. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update as to progress on refunds to a supplier following an overcharge of almost €786,000 uncovered by the Comptroller and Auditor General in relation to 98 schools during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic periods; the reason refunds are being made on a phased basis as opposed to a lump sum; the timeline of these refund…

325. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to the school meals scheme, if a special school that has not yet availed of the scheme can apply for funding for snacks and drinks only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52815/25]

331. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if all special schools are part of the schools meals programme; if not, the names of special schools that are not part of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52799/25]

623. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the hot meals programme for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51401/25]

664. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide clarification on the payment under the hot meals suppliers programme to specific schools (details supplied) in counties Leitrim and Roscommon. [51933/25]

84. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools under contract to a supplier (details supplied) under the hot school meals programme; the number of these schools that exclusively cater to additional educational needs; the number that are DEIS schools; the number that are DEIS+ schools; his plan to provide parents of children affected by the cessation of th…

91. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools enrolled in the school meals scheme in 2025; the percentage of waste analysis has been done in these schools; and the nature of the reporting mechanism. [50836/25]

112. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to undertake a review of the hot school meals scheme, specifically to examine the quality and nutritional value of the food being provided; whether the current levels of food waste associated with the programme are justifiable; and the steps being taken to ensure the scheme is regularly reviewed and held accountable to del…