Fresh out the oven: Three additional schools in County Kildare are to receive hot school meals from September

Three additional schools in County Kildare will receive hot school meals from September, it has been announced.

The schools will join the government’s Hot School Meals Programme, in addition to 19 schools across Kildare who are currently availing of this Programme.

Across the country, over 345,000 primary school children are now eligible to receive hot school meals under the Programme.

The three schools to be added to the Programme are: Scoil na Naomh Uilig in Newbridge, Scoil na Cloch Rinnce and Scoil na Tír Mochain, the latter two of which are located in North Kildare.

One public representative who welcomed the news was Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, who said: "I’m heartened to see the extension of this hugely important initiative which is designed to ensure that every child has access to regular, nutritious meals, enabling them to make the most of the educational opportunities available to them.

"The expansion of the Hot School Meals programme has been a priority for Fianna Fáil in Government and its expansion has been supported by the Department of Education under my Fianna Fáil colleague, Minister for Education Norma Foley."

Senator O'Loughlin, who is also a former schoolteacher, continued: "No child should have to learn on an empty stomach; the expansion of this  programme to these additional schools is a vital step in making sure that all our children have access to a hot meal.

"The Department of Social Protection provides the funding to schools for the School Meals Programme, and it is the responsibility of schools to choose their supplier in an open, fair and transparent manner."
 
"I understand that the Department will now write to each of the three  schools to advise them on the next steps in this regard to allow schools time to prepare so that their pupils will be able to avail of Hot School Meals from September 2024," Senator O'Loughlin concluded.

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Another public representative who welcomed the announcement was Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon, who said: "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.

"It is a great scheme and is very beneficial for primary school children here in Kildare."

He continued: "It was initially introduced by Fine Gael Minister Regina Doherty in 2019 as a pilot measure to 30 schools and now under Minister Heather Humphreys the scheme stretches to 2,200 primary schools across the country.

"This shows the commitment from my party, Fine Gael, to ensure every child has the best start in life."

Mr Heydon TD further said: "And we won’t stop; the latest announcement brings to 22 the number of schools availing of the scheme in Kildare, but I want more schools across Kildare to have the programme extended to them as soon as possible and working with Minister Humphreys, we will make that happen."

"It is a great success and will be welcomed by pupils, parents and teachers," he concluded.

The 19 Kildare schools currently in the Programme can be viewed below.

• Scoil Na Rath Mór
• Churchtown National School
• St Laurences National School
• Scoil Na Cianog Naofa
• Mercy Convent Primary School
• St Brigids National School
• Scoil Na Brighde
• Scoil Chorbain
• Scoil Na Mhuire
• Scoil Na Bride
• Scoil Na Naomh Ioseph
• Scoil Na Baile Roibeaird
• Prosperous National School
• Castledermot Mixed National School 
• Killashee Multi-denominational National School
• Maynooth Educate Together National School
• Kildare Town Educate Together National School
• Gaelscoil Mhic Aodha
• Scoil Mhuire Allenwood National School

Two public representatives based in County Kildare who welcomed the news: Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O'Loughlin and Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon.