What isa Deis school

The scheme will be expanded to all remaining DEIS schools this September, with plans to introduce it to all primary schools next year.

"I would be very hopeful about this, because it means that it becomes part of the strategy for Social Protection, to realise that they have a responsibility for all children in schools - not just the children in need. "At a time when some parents are having to skip meals and are constantly worried about being able to provide their children with sufficient food these plans could make a real difference going forward," the chairy said in a statement. "When that becomes systemic, it means the schools will have to build up their capacity to provide school meals," he added. "I was talking to a school principal just today, who was telling me that when they brought in the school meals they brought the buses in earlier, the students came earlier to school. "It's a very clear achievement to have breakfast, no matter what the cost of it is". "I think that the research says that when school meals are provided, students are well-looked after in school, they come on time and they're not distracted.

Currently, the programme is restricted and is limited to children attending school in disadvantaged areas, Deis schools.

The School Meals Programme currently has an annual Budget of over €94million. “They have seen first-hand the huge difference that a hot school meal has had on childrens’ educational outcomes. And they provide untold benefits for both the children, and their families.” Let’s be bold and let’s be ambitious. It does wonders for our childrens’ wellbeing, their concentration and their physical and mental health. Every child in the country will be entitled to a hot dinner at school by 2030 under a radical expansion of the school meals programme to be announced today.

New report details hugely positive impact of School Meals on children's education and wellbeing · Evaluation recommends making Hot School Meals universal by 2030 ...

The Programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,600 schools and organisations benefitting 260,000 children at present. Funding under the School Meals Programme is at a specific rate per meal, per child, per day. The School Meals Programme has an annual Budget of over €94 million. There are 300 pupils in St David’s Boys National School enjoying these hot meals every school-day.” We know this because we have gone out to schools and asked the children about the difference it makes.