A further 500 primary schools could be added to the Hot School Meals Programme by September, the Minister for Social Protection has said. 

This week, 713 schools were added to the programme, bringing the total number to 2,850. 

On The Hard Shoulder, Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary said he hoped the programme would be expanded further. 

“That’s from a pilot scheme initiated by my predecessor Regina Doherty back in 2019,” he said. 

“So, that’s a very big expansion; I really want to thank school communities up and down the island who have rallied to this programme. 

“They make all the arrangements locally to do it and I really want to acknowledge that.”

Children at a primary school eating lunch. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Minister Calleary said he hopes another 500 primary schools will have joined the scheme. 

“We’re going to engage with them over the next few weeks to try and get them onboard and give them the opportunity to come onboard for the new school year which starts in September,” he said. 

Minister Calleary added there has been some “very positive feedback” about the programme so far. 

However, he conceded some issues have been raised about the quality of food being fed to children and promised a review would take place. 

Lunchtime at a primary school. Picture by: Alamy.com.

“There’s also concern from some people around some of the foods that are used around ‘treat days’, for instance,” he said. 

“As a start, we’re going to remove any optional food that is high in saturated fat, high in sugar, high in salt. 

“That’s going to be gone from September. So, we’re going to begin that process.” 

Currently, some 475,000 primary school children now eligible to receive Hot School Meals. 

Main image: Dara Calleary. Picture by: Alamy.com