Seven Mayo schools approved for hot meals programme

MINISTER of State Alan Dillon has confirmed that seven primary schools across Mayo have been approved for the hot school meals programme.

The approved schools are:

Castlebar Primary School - Castlebar

Gaelscoil Raifteirí - Castlebar

St. Joseph's NS - Derrywash, Castlebar

St. Patrick's NS - Balla

Scoil Chomain Naofa - Roundfort, Hollymount

SN Naomh Colm Cille - The Quay, Westport

Cloondaff NS - Glenhest

Minister Dillon expressed his delight at today’s news following Minister Heather Humphreys’ announcement that an additional 168 primary schools across every county will receive hot school meals from September 2024.

“I am delighted to see seven new schools in Mayo included in this vital programme, ensuring more children have access to nutritious meals,” he said.

The programme has grown from a small pilot of just 30 schools to a nationwide programme, now providing nutritious hot meals in 2,200 primary schools across the country.

Minister Dillon explained: “The Department of Social Protection will now write to each of the 168 schools to advise them on the next steps in this regard to allow schools time to prepare so that their pupils will be able to avail of hot school meals from September.”

He also highlighted the positive impact of the programme, stating: “Research indicates that the provision of school meals results in improvements in school attendance, with evidence that providing children with food in school is making a difference to families in terms of money saved and, for some families, in time saved on food preparation.”