Minister to seek budget funds to finish deployment of hot school meals programme

When asked if a €20 rise in social welfare rates would be possible, Minister Heather Humphreys played down the prospect as it would cost the taxpayer 'almost €2 billion'

At present, there are 2,000 primary schools involved in the hot school meals scheme. File picture

Further funding to complete the roll-out of hot school meals will be sought in the upcoming budget, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has said.

Speaking at the annual pre-budget forum, Ms Humphreys said she wants to take specific “targeted measures” in the upcoming budget.

“For example, I have started to roll out a very successful hot school meals programme. I’d like to finish that,” Ms Humphreys said.

“All primary school children will receive a hot school meal in the middle of the day. It takes such pressure off families in terms of putting together a lunch for them. That’s just one measure that I’d like to finish out.”

Ms Humphreys said her “goal” for the upcoming budget is to ensure that funding is secured to allow any school that wishes to engage with the scheme.

At present, there are 2,000 primary schools involved in the hot school meals scheme. A further expression of interest has been issued to the estimated 1,000 remaining primary schools to apply for the programme.

Social welfare

Asked about what she would be pushing for in the upcoming budget, Ms Humphreys said: “We will put together a (social welfare) package that focuses on our most vulnerable, which I consider to be our carers, people with disabilities, working families and of course our pensioners."

When asked if a €20 rise in social welfare rates would be possible, Ms Humphreys played down the prospect as it would cost the taxpayer “almost €2 billion”.

“It doesn’t be long adding up but what we will do, we’ll do the same as we do every year. We sit down and we work out a budget that is targeted at those who are most vulnerable.”

While negotiations are not underway on the package as of yet, government sources have suggested that social welfare rates are likely to be increased between €8 and €10 in October's budget.

On cost-of-living measures, Ms Humphreys said she would be “ambitious in my ask”, while adding that inflationary pressures have dropped off.

“I’m very aware that when you go to the supermarket, the cost of doing the weekly shop is still considerably higher than it was some time ago,” Ms Humphreys said.

'Balanced approach'

Finance Minister Jack Chambers said the Government is due to take a “balanced approach” in the upcoming budget, saying that sticking to the existing 5% spending rule would pose a risk to “frontline public services”.

Mr Chambers said there would need to be a “prioritisation” by Government ministers of their asks in budget negotiations.

He dismissed concerns from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC), which said that the Government appears to be taking an “everything now” approach to spending increases.

The summer economic statement set out a further €8.3bn in tax and spending earlier this week.