Please note: the Grants on this
page are provided by the Irish Government...not RedBranch!The School Meals Programme
The School Meals Programme aims to supplement the diets of school-going
children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme is administered by the
Department of Social and Family Affairs. Funding is available for all
schools, including primary schools, preschools and post-primary schools under the following designations:
 | School Completion Programme |
| Designated Disadvantaged |
| Home School Community Liaison |
| Giving Children an Even Break |
| DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) |
| Early Start |
A comprehensive list of DEIS schools is available on the
Department of Education website.
Schools that are not on the list may still qualify for funding and should
contact their local authority or the School Meals Section of the Department
of Social and Family Affairs.
Funding for school meals is provided under two strands, the urban school
meals scheme and the local projects scheme. The Department funds 50% of the
food costs under the urban scheme and the relevant local authority funds the
remaining 50%. Under the local projects scheme it provides funding based on
a standard rate per child per day for each meal type. These rates are:
| 60 cent allowance for the provision of breakfast |
| 60 cent allowance for the provision of a healthy snack (healthy snack
should include either water, pure fruit juice or milk and a snack e.g. a
piece of fruit) |
| €1.40 is allotted for a light meal (the lunch should include a
sandwich, a piece of fruit, and a drink) |
| €1.90 is allotted for a hot meal |
The light meal allowance is the most widely used amongst schools,
although an increasing number of schools are combining the healthy lunch and
snack allowance to provide a more substantial offering.
The allowance has been used by a number of schools to supplement meals -
thereby reducing the cost to students. This is more common in post-primary
schools where students need a more substantial meal.
Example: Cost of Salad Roll, water and a piece of fruit is €3.00 Minus
school meals allowance of €1.40 Total Cost to student = €1.60
For schools that are interested in providing lunches under the scheme
there are a number of companies and community/voluntary groups across the
country that are supplying food under the scheme. Before deciding on a
supplier you might consider contacting your community dietician about the
types of food that should be supplied, or
contact a
member of the RedBranch team for advice.
When selecting a supplier it may be useful to consider the following;
| Ensure your supplier meets health and safety standards and is HACCP
compliant |
| Choose a supplier with a varied menu. Children get bored of having the
same food every day |
| Ask supplier for nutritional specs on each product. Avoid products
high in fat, sugar, or salt |
| Avoid foods containing trans-fats |
| Drinks should be limited to milk, water or pure fruit juices |
| The best snack options should be minimally processed (e.g. fruit,
dried fruit, etc) |
There is a certain amount of scope for providing healthy food initiatives
under the scheme including:
Breakfast Clubs
Failure to eat breakfast has an effect on behaviour, health and academic
performance. However, more and more children and young people are going to
school without breakfast. If this is an issue in your school you should
consider setting up a breakfast club. This can be funded using the 60 cent
allowance for breakfasts.
Crunch and Sip Breaks
A crunch and sip provides students with a piece of fruit and a bottle of
water each day and can be funded using the 60 cent light snack allowance. It
has a number of health benefits for
students. Students will receive one portion of their recommended minimum
of five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Water will contribute to
student hydration and people who are well hydrated perform better
academically and are less likely to choose unhealthy beverages.
We strongly encourage all schools that qualify for funding under the
school meals programme to avail of it. If you would like more information on
this issue, or if you would like our assistance in setting up healthy eating
initiatives in your school please
contact us.
|
