You’d eat them yourself.”The School Meals Scheme, which is funded by the Department of Social Protection, is now available to about 3,700 schools and 682,000 children. Children’s charity Barnardos told the politicians that the families it works with were overwhelmingly in favour of the Government’s School Meals Scheme. Then taoiseach Simon Harris and then minister for social protection Heather Humphreys announcing the rollout of hot school meals to additional 900 primary schools. Photograph: MaxwellsSt Patrick’s National School started facilitating hot school lunches in January of last year. “Some families really, really appreciate it,” Bassett says.

Source: The Irish Times February 10, 2026 13:30 UTC