More than 60 additional primary schools in Galway have been added to the government’s Hot School Meals programme.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys today announced that more than 150,000 pupils in over 900 new schools will benefit from hot meals next year.
“When I was appointed Minister for Social Protection in June 2020, there were 30 schools receiving Hot Meals. Today’s announcement means that from April next year there will be over 1,400 primary schools benefitting from Hot School Meals.”
“As Minister, I am absolutely determined to continue to expand the Hot School Meals Programme to every Primary School in Ireland.”
“My ambition is that a child born in Ireland today will be guaranteed access to a Hot Meal by the time they start school.”
“The major expansion I am announcing today means we are now well on course to achieve that objective,” Heather Humphreys said.
The Hot School Meals Programme was introduced in 2019 as a small pilot of 30 schools.
Minister Humphreys has grown the Programme significantly in recent years and all DEIS Primary Schools are now eligible to receive a Hot Meal.
Earlier this year, Minister Humphreys signalled her intention to roll out the Hot School Meals Programme to all Primary Schools.
As part of this significant expansion plan, all remaining primary schools were contacted and requested to submit an expression of interest form if their school is interested in commencing the provision of hot school meals.
The Department of Social Protection will now write to each of these 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 meals from April 2024.
The list of Galway schools joining the programme next year is:
- Aibhistin Naofa
- Baile Mor Siol Anmcadha
- Ballinderreen Mxd NS
- Ballymana NS
- Brierfield NS
- Castleblakeney NS
- Gaelscoil Dara
- Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha
- Gaelscoil Riada
- Galway Educate Together NS
- Garrafrauns Central Sch
- Glinsk NS
- Gortanumera NS
- Knocknacarra Educate Together NS
- Lurga NS
- Merlin Woods Primary School
- Naomh Colman Mac Duaigh
- Nioclas Naofa
- SN Aindreis Naofa
- SN An Cillin
- SN An Croi Ro Naofa
- SN An Droma
- SN Ard Raithin
- SN Baile Atha N Riogh
- SN Baile Na Cille
- SN Bhride
- SN Breandain Naofa
- SN Brighde
- SN Cill Cruain
- SN Cill Cuile
- SN Cillini Dioma
- SN Domhnach Padraig
- SN Gort Na Leime
- SN Iomair Naofa
- SN Mhuire
- SN Mhuire
- SN Muire Gan Smal
- SN Naomh Iosef
- SN Naomh Treasa
- SN Padraic Naofa
- SN Padraig Naofa
- SN Padraig Naofa
- SN Seamus Naofa
- SN Tir Na Cille
- Scoil Chroi Naofa
- Scoil Iarlatha Naofa
- Scoil Mhuire
- Scoil Mhuire
- Scoil Mhuire Naofa
- Scoil Na Ngasur
- Scoil Náisiúnta Róis
- Scoil Naomh Einde
- Scoil Naomh Iosef
- SN Cearn Mor
- SN Muine Mhea
- St Brendans NS
- St Brendans NS
- St Feichins N School
- St Oliver Plunkett National School
- St Oliver Plunketts NS
- Togala Mhuire
- Tuam Educate Together National School