Almost 4,000 pupils in Carlow can avail of hot school meal funding from government

The School Meals Programme received €94.4 million of funding in Budget 2023. While in February, the Government approved an additional €14.5m to allow access to the Hot School Meals scheme for all remaining DEIS schools from September 2023.

The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to 1,700 schools, benefitting approximately 300,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children.

The hot school meal commenced as a pilot in 2019 with the number of schools with access to the Hot School Meal option now at 1,100.

A total of eighteen schools in Carlow have access to hot school meal funding since September 2023 with 3,875 pupils having the option to avail of this.

The number of schools in Carlow who availed of hot school meals last year (2022/2023) was thirteen.

The School Meals programme is currently accepting applications for the 2023/2024 school year. All DEIS primary schools and special schools invited to avail of the hot school meals option, can go online and download the SMLPS 1 application on gov.ie - School Meals Scheme (www.gov.ie).