Twenty-one Mayo schools to benefit from Hot School Meals expansion

AN additional 21 Mayo schools have been approved for the Hot School Meals programme, Minister of State Alan Dillon has confirmed.

In a further expansion of the programme, an additional 131,700 children across 713 schools will have access to nutritious hot meals starting from today. This brings the total number of primary school children across the country who are now eligible to receive a hot school meal every day to 475,000.

Said Minister Dillon: “The addition of 21 further schools in Mayo is part of this major expansion. A hot school meal does wonders for our children in terms of their physical and mental health, as well as their educational output. It makes them happier and more productive, while also giving parents peace of mind that their children are being fed while at school.”

The 21 schools in Mayo who are now included in the programme are:

Burriscarra NS, Carnacon

St. Feichin NS, Cross

Meelickmore NS, Swinford

Craggagh NS, Balla

Tavneena NS, Charlestown

Beacan NS, Claremorris

Mayo Abbey NS

The Quay NS, Ballina

Shrule NS

Drummin NS, Westport

Balla NS

Taugheen NS

Manulla NS

St. Attracta’s NS, Charlestown

Errew NS, Castlebar

Cloonliffen NS, Ballinrobe

Ballyvary Central NS

Barnacarroll Central NS

St. Joseph’s NS, Kilmaine

St. Joseph’s NS, Ballinrobe

St. Mary’s NS, Partry

The programme, first established by Fine Gael in 2019 as a pilot of just 30 schools, will now be availed of by 2,850 primary schools across the country.

The Department of Social Protection will also be engaging with any primary schools not currently signed up, to encourage them to participate, explained Minister Dillon, who said he looked forward to working with the successful schools in rolling out the scheme for the benefit of their students.