Principals call for extension to hot meals programme as 'food poverty is increasingly visible'

School principal Conor McCarthy said that the hot meals programme is 'feeding hungry children consistently every day during the school year.' Picture: Dan Linehan

School principals have warned food poverty is becoming increasingly visible, prompting calls for the school meals scheme to be extended outside of term time.

The Oireachtas education committee concluded its body of work on Tuesday examining the impact of the hot school meals programme introduced in recent years.

Principal of St Mary’s National School in King’s Island, Limerick City, Eoghan O’Byrne told the committee his school’s experience of the scheme has been “overwhelmingly” positive.

The quality of the food has been very good, diets and allergies are well catered for, and menus have been designed to be accessible, he said.

With continued investment, better administrative support, and year-round thinking, it has the potential to be one of the most impactful educational interventions of our time.

However, he also wanted to alert the committee to the lack of food provision during the school holidays, which he said is a “critical issue".

“Food poverty is becoming increasingly visible," he said. 

Serving one of the most marginalised communities in the country, students at the school may receive up to 15 meals per week during the term, including breakfast, snacks, a hot meal and dinner.  

“When schools close, that safety net disappears," Mr Byrne said. "This is a gap that must be urgently addressed at national level.” 

Principal of Tallaght Community National School Conor McCarthy echoed his support for the scheme.

Food poverty is “manifesting” as hungry children in schools, he said. The most disadvantaged schools are welcoming children every day who haven’t had a breakfast or a decent dinner the day before.

The programme is guaranteeing them the option of a decent meal everyday. 

Teachers working in areas of extreme disadvantage build up such good relationships with their students that “they know by the look on someone's face in the morning” whether or not they had a slice of toast or bowl of cereal.

Children might not see their experience as “out of the norm”, he added. 

“That's the life that they're living, sometimes there's food in the house and sometimes there isn't. 

“Having the free school lunches and the hot meal specifically, if there isn't the time for teachers and SNAs to be asking those questions, it is guaranteeing them the hot meal every single day.”

Mr McCarthy added that negatives about the scheme have “made the headlines”. 

"What has been ignored is that it is feeding hungry children consistently every day during the school year.”

• Jess Casey is Education Correspondent.