Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has welcomed the government’s announcement of increased investment in the School Meals Programme but warned that without stronger accountability and a commitment to provide locally sourced, nutritious food, the scheme risks falling short of its goals.
Deputy Cummins, who represents Dublin South Central and is the party’s education spokesperson, said:
“No child should be expected to learn on an empty stomach, so the expansion of the Free Hot School Meals Programme is a step in the right direction. However, parents, teachers and school staff have sounded the alarm about meals being high in salt, fat and preservatives, which is not acceptable.
“While the government has highlighted ongoing audits and nutritional standards, responses I received to my parliamentary questions reveal that just 400 schools — out of over 2,000 participating — are inspected annually by the Department of Education.
“With only around 20 per cent of schools being inspected each year, there is a glaring gap in oversight. We cannot claim to be delivering nutritious meals when we don’t actually know what’s being served in four out of every five schools.
“There are also concerns that the current procurement model prioritises cost over quality, allowing large catering companies with a focus on profit margins to dominate the supply of school meals.
“Schools are being left to navigate a complex procurement process on their own, which often means the cheapest bidder wins. That is not how we build a food programme rooted in children’s health.
“Food provided in schools should be local, seasonal, and consumed for the public good – not for shareholder returns.
“Figures I obtained from the Department of Education show that €49 million was allocated to schools in Dublin alone under the programme for the 2024–2025 year, with counties like Cork and Donegal receiving €24 million and €12 million respectively.
“With this level of investment, we have a duty to ensure we are supporting Irish farmers, sustainable food producers, and most importantly, the long-term health of our children.
“Following today’s announcement, I am now calling for mandatory annual inspections for all participating schools; clear public reporting on the nutritional value and sourcing of meals; incentives for schools to source from local producers; and stronger support for schools in navigating procurement to ensure they can choose quality over cost.
“The School Meals Programme must be more than a box-ticking exercise. It should be a cornerstone of education and public health policy, nourishing young minds with proper food while supporting local business communities in the process.”
April 11, 2025