Revealed: 20 Kilkenny schools added to the hot school meals programme

Primary schools across Kilkenny and Carlow have been announced as included in the newly-expanded hot school meals scheme. 

In Kilkenny 30 schools will now offer hot meals to students, while in Co Carlow 20 schools have been added to the scheme, which this week has been extended from a pilot scheme of 30 schools nationwide to 2,000 schools.

All other schools can apply to be included in the scheme from September.

Confirming the announcement, Deputy John Paul Phelan said more than 150,000 student nationwide will now benefit from the scheme.

In Kilkenny the extension of the scheme has been welcomed by Cllr Deirdre Cullen, who is a teacher. "I welcome this as an educator myself," Cllr Cullen said. "I see the huge impact providing free, hot food can make to so many young people."

Every home situation is different, Cllr Cullen said, but this scheme gives a guarantee that younger children receive a hot meal, which is vital to creating an environment in which they can learn, to the best of their abilities.

"The reality is, we do have people coming to school hungry. Learning can be very difficult for young students if they don't have adequate nutrition. If we are serious about educational equality for all, this ensures everyone is on the same, level playing field," Cllr Cullen added.

Speaking during a joint visit to St. Thomas’ Junior National School in Lucan, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “I am so proud of this programme. It is one of the things that is mentioned to me most as I visit communities across the country.

“We launched Hot School Meals as a pilot five years ago and it has seen huge demand ever since. Today’s expansion to an additional 150,000 children means that over 316,000 children can now receive a nutritious, hot meal during their school day.

“As Taoiseach I have promised to focus on delivery of our pledges to help families and today’s announcement is just one of the ways I am planning to do this.”