Schools pushing for food scheme

Schools across the country are clamouring to offer free breakfasts to pupils as they’re increasingly concerned that children are not being fed before coming to school.

Earlier this week, it emerged a seven-year-old who collapsed in a Cork City classroom was found to be “severely undernourished”. Social services were informed and a doctor was called to the northside primary school.

In the past three years, 8.5% more schools across the country were granted access to the Urban School Meals Scheme — a scheme which provides food to 49,000 school-going children in 332 schools. In total, up to 189,000 children avail of food under the wider school meals programme.