Twelve Longford schools to benefit from expansion of hot meals scheme

Longford / Westmeath Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty, has welcomed the inclusion of twelve Longford national schools in the expansion of the hot school meals from next April.

He said, “I’m very pleased that 12 local national schools have been selected to participate in the hot meals scheme for national schools from next April. The expansion of the scheme will mean a free hot meal each school day for every child attending these schools.”

The twelve schools are: St Dominic's NS, Kenagh; Naomh Guasachta NS, Bunlahy; Naomh Padraig NS, Coolarty; Melview NS, Longford; Colmcille NS, Aughnacliffe; Naomh Mhuire, Newtowncashel; St Mel’s NS, Ardagh; Scoil Samhthann, Ballinalee; Scoil Bhríde, Glen, Edgeworthstown; Scoil Mhuire, Granard ; St Patrick’s, Dromard, Moyne and St Johns NS, Battery Rd, Longford.

In December, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, announced that 900 primary schools were approved for the Hot School Meals Programme, which means an additional 150,000 children will benefit from nutritious hot meals next year.

The Hot School Meals Programme was introduced in 2019 as a small pilot of 30 schools.

Minister Humphreys said, “When I was appointed Minister for Social Protection in June 2020, there were 30 schools receiving Hot Meals. This announcement means that from April next year there will be over 1,400 primary schools benefiting from Hot School Meals.

“As Minister, I am absolutely determined to continue to expand the Hot School Meals Programme to every Primary School in Ireland.”

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