Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has accused the government of failing to deliver the Hot School Meals Programme in a way that is fair, sustainable and genuinely centred on children\u2019s nutritional needs.<\/p>\n
Deputy Cummins, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on education, made her comments after the issue was raised today at the joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth.<\/p>\n
She said:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe evidence presented to the committee shows that the programme is now at a critical point where its weaknesses must be addressed rather than ignored.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe core truth behind hot school meals is simple \u2013 children cannot learn if they are hungry. That is why this programme matters so much.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, supporting the principle of school meals does not mean turning a blind eye to how it is being delivered. If we get this wrong, we undermine the very outcomes the programme is supposed to achieve.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom what we heard this morning, the value of school meals for children living in poverty is clear. Not only does the scheme reduce stress at home, it ensures that children have the energy to properly engage in the classroom and learn.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the evidence also points to serious problems with food quality, portion sizes, waste and the additional burden the programme places on schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe heard repeatedly that while schools and families support the idea of hot meals, they are deeply concerned about how the scheme is operating in practice. Parents are telling us that younger children are overwhelmed by portions they can\u2019t finish, older children are still hungry, and far too much food is ending up in the bin. That is not acceptable when public money is being spent and children\u2019s nutrition is at stake.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor some children, school meals are now their most reliable hot meal of the day. This underlines the need for higher standards, not lower expectations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a programme becomes this important in children\u2019s lives, the bar must be set higher. Meals need to be nutritious, age-appropriate and delivered in a way that respects children\u2019s dignity. A one-size-fits-all, outsourced model simply does not achieve that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to look to international models, where school meals are treated as a public good rather than a private contract.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have visited schools that use local providers and on-site kitchens, where meals are part of the school day and part of children\u2019s social development. Such systems create local jobs, reduce waste, improve quality and give schools real control. This is the direction Ireland should be moving in.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis programme should be about nourishment, not box-ticking. Good nutrition in childhood supports better health, better educational outcomes and lower costs for the State in the long run. If we prioritise speed over quality now, we will pay for it later.\u201d<\/p>\n
January 22, 2026<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has accused the government of failing to deliver the Hot School Meals Programme in a way that is fair, sustainable and genuinely centred on children\u2019s nutritional needs. Deputy Cummins, who is the party\u2019s spokesperson on education, made her comments after the issue was raised today at the joint Oireachtas Committee […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":12900,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[218,581,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-jen-cummins","category-press-release"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n