Carlow pre-schools listed for new free lunch programme tackling child food poverty

A number of pre-schools in Carlow will receive free daily lunches for children as part of a new scheme launched by the Government to help tackle childhood food poverty.

Earlier this week, the Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley TD announced the launch of Bia Blasta, the pre-school nutrition programme, which will provide daily lunches for pre-school children in disadvantaged areas.

Around €4.2 million in funding will be provided to ensure that 25,000 children across the country get a nutritious meal while attending early learning and care services.

The scheme aims to tackle child food poverty and reduce the risk of children going hungry or missing meals. It also hopes to ensure children learn about and enjoy nutritious foods, with the help of a dedicated dietitian to advise and support participating services.

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Mealtimes will be provided within a learning framework that builds children’s experiences of nutritious foods, along with the experience of preparing, sharing, and clearing up after meals.

This is the latest initiative under the Equal Start funding model, which provides universal and targeted measures for children in disadvantaged areas in early learning and care and school-age childcare.

Pre-schools in Carlow which have been listed in the announcement as recipients of the funding include: Anne's Montessori Playschool, Apple Tree Pre-School, Askea Community Childcare Centre, Cill an Oir Afterschool, Dolmen Nursery, John Sweeney Park Afterschool, Kilkenny Road Community Childcare & Family Centre, Little Fairies Early Learning Centre, Natures Way Borris, New Oak /Askea Afterschool, Respond Early Years Service, Slaney View, Sherpa Kids Scoil Mhuire Lourdes (SMLT), St. Catherines Community Services Centre and Stepping Stones Community Childcare Service.

Announcing the new Bia Blasta programme, Minister Foley said: "There is very strong evidence that giving nutritious lunches to children in disadvantaged areas will combat the risk of hunger as well as improving their attention levels and overall wellbeing.

"Bia Blasta is another very positive initiative under the Equal Start model, which is delivering crucial supports to children attending early learning and care and school age childcare in disadvantaged areas."

A total of €3.2 million is available to deliver the programme this year. A further €1 million is also available through the rest of 2025 for participating services to purchase equipment such as fridges, freezers, dishwashers, or ovens, up to the value of €1,000.

The programme will be provided to all existing Equal Start-funded services in the free, universal two-year preschool Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE). This is expected to cater for around 15,000 children across the country.

In addition to these existing services with a priority designation under Equal Start, the Equal Start Identification Model will be drawn upon to target additional ECCE- only services that are serving high numbers of children experiencing disadvantage. This is expected to cater for another 10,000 children.

All early learning and care and school-age childcare services in Ireland are required by legislation to provide meals, with the type and frequency of meals dependent on the hours per day a child attends. Children in full day care (over 5 hours) must, for example, receive 2 meals and 2 snacks each day by regulation whereas children in the 3-hour free pre-school programme typically bring lunch boxes from home.

The Bia Blasta programme will be the first time that dedicated funding is provided for children who attend the 3-hour free pre-school programme, and who typically bring lunch boxes from home.