Hot School Meals: An Investment in Ireland’s Future

Ireland’s Hot School Meals Programme was first championed by the Green Party as a way to tackle child poverty, improve learning, and give every child a fair chance. The principle was simple but powerful: no child should try to learn on an empty stomach. Since its introduction, research from the WHO, UNICEF, and countless international studies has shown that hot meals at school improve nutrition, boost concentration, and reduce inequality, ensuring that every child, no matter their background, gets at least one healthy meal a day.

Unfortunately, rather than building on a good idea, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have let the scheme slip into chaos. The new rules rushed in without proper planning have left schools struggling with food safety compliance, delays in suppliers, and even menus dominated by unhealthy, ultra-processed food. Right now, hundreds of schools, including in Ballyroan, are being left without school meals that were promised to start this September.

This is poor planning and worse implementation. Hot school meals are not a luxury, they are an investment in our children and in Ireland’s future. Properly managed, the scheme can deliver healthier kids, better educational outcomes, reduced inequality, and long-term savings for society. The government must stop mismanaging what should be a simple, effective programme and start delivering for children and famili

es.