PUPILS at a further 11 schools across County Limerick can count on full bellies this coming September after being added to the Hot School Meals Scheme.
The news was announced this by Further Education Minister and Limerick TD Patrick O’Donovan, who said that 345,000 students across Ireland will now have access to a hot meal at school.
Minister O’Donovan said that the initiative aims to ensure that children across Ireland have access to a range of wellbeing supports.
“The programme forms part of Ireland’s commitment under the European Child Guarantee to give all children access to a range of key services, including healthcare and nutrition,” the County Limerick TD said.
“It is a great scheme and is very beneficial for primary school children here in Limerick.”
The 11 schools across County Limerick that will be included in the Hot School Meals Scheme when the academic term kicks off again in September are Meenkilly NS, Croagh National School, St Josephs National School in Dromcollogher, Glengurt National School, St Nicholas Church of Ireland School, Garrydoolis National School, Salesian Primary School, Kilfinane Convent Primary School, S N Naomh Iosef, Ballybrown, Gerald Griffin National School, and Scoil Ide Naofa in Raheenagh.
The scheme was first introduced in 2019 as a pilot scheme to 30 schools, which has now grown to cover 2,200 primary schools all across Ireland.
The Department of Social Protection will write to all of the new schools to be included to advise them on the next steps to allow schools time to prepare.
