150,000 more unable to afford healthy food, figures show

The problem of food poverty is continuing to rise in Ireland, with an extra 150,000 people unable to afford healthy food over three years.

Figures from the Department of Social Protection show food poverty increased from 10 to 13.2% of the population between 2010 and 2013.

One in five children go to school or to bed hungry, and 100 "Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools" schools cannot use their funding to provide breakfasts for needy students, because they cannot afford the equipment or people needed to serve meals.

A Healthy Food for All conference is calling for half a million euro so that all DEIS schools can provide healthy meals, as well as €2.5 million for community food initiatives.

Principal of St Eithne’s Girls School in Edenmore in north Dublin, Janet Lynch, said she provides breakfast for 58 students every day, but relies on charity to get the food.

"We just don't have any money at the moment so we're relying on charity handouts. The actual cost would be 60 cent per child per day, so it's a very minimal cost," she said.

"We want to keep it running, but at the moment we're collecting token in Tesco, we're getting bread from charity, and it's just not ideal.

"The children are there early, they are there before us in the morning, they're hungry, and we're giving them breakfast in a lovely atmosphere.

"They're happy and they're ready to learn. It would be a shame to let that go."

Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, said funds were available for schools from her department for the healthy food for all initiative, but "the move has to come from the schools" to apply.