LAST UPDATE | 14 Jan

HOT SCHOOL MEALS are under the microscope today as some of the country’s leading education providers outline the pros and cons of the scheme in Leinster House.

TDs and Senators on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Youth will hear the experiences of those involved in the rollout of the meals across the Irish school system.

The programme began in 2019 before expanding significantly to cover primary schools across the country.

In Educate Together’s opening statement to the committee, seen by The Journal, chief executive Emer Nowlan said schools have seen “menu fatigue” and “dissatisfaction” leading some families to opt out of the scheme.

Overall, Nowlan believes the meals programme been “good policy, but with flawed execution” that needs reversing.

TDs will also hear today of concerns about food quality and suitability, particularly for children with allergies or restrictive diets.

We want to hear from you

With this in mind, we’re asking families and teachers to get in touch with their experiences of the hot meals programme.

In a paragraph or two (a maximum of 200 words), please let us know:

• What has it been like in your school? How has it helped?

• What have been the positives and the negatives?

• Have children’s views of the meals changed over time?

• What are the meals like?

• Do you think changes are needed?

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Hot school meals: How can we do better for the children in Irish schools?

Email us at answers@thejournal.ie with what happened to you. Please include your name and county, and let us know if you would prefer to remain anonymous.

We’ll include your story in a forthcoming article.