PARENTS OF SCHOOL children have expressed their disappointment after they were informed the proposed hot school meals programme due to begin this term has been delayed. 

Earlier this month, the Department of Social Protection announced that despite the initiative being promised to all primary schools in last year’s Budget, up to 350 schools would not have access from September. 

From this September, all primary schools in the State are eligible for the Hot School Meals scheme. 

The scheme provides children in primary schools with one hot meal per day. Funding is provided directly to the school who is to source its own supplier, which invoices the school directly.

Two national schools in Waterford sent emails to parents yesterday to inform them that due to issues with procurement processes on the department’s side, the schools would not be able to provide the lunches to the students. 

Local Sinn Féin councillor Joeanne Bailey, whose son is a pupil at one of the schools, told The Journal that school is due to start back on Thursday.

“We received a message yesterday, along with other schools in the city and county, and I think it’s absolutely disgraceful that schools have to wait. This is a big announcement from the government, and it just seems to be another announcement that they couldn’t fulfil.

“The schools aren’t at fault here. The hoops the schools have to jump through to get something that has been announced – it’s not great.”

The delay in the scheme reaching the schools has been put down to a hold up by the department in finalising the standard procurement documentation for the scheme.

The procurement process may take between eight to ten weeks to complete, meaning schools may be waiting until close to Christmas to implement the scheme.

One email issued by a school affected by the delay said, “Despite the big announcements in the media earlier this year, the government did not have the necessary processes in place. This is impacting all schools that were approved at Easter and is out of our control.”

Opposition politicians have labelled the delay as “unfair” and a “disgrace”, with several noting that the programme was not intended as a support to families, but a necessity for many schoolchildren across the country.

A statement from the Department of Social Protection said that the updated procurement documentation was made available to schools on 15 August – once this procurement has been undertaken, “there will be no delay in funding from DSP”.

“An Interdepartmental Working Group was established to oversee and make recommendations on the operation of School Meals.

“The Department of Education, with the support of the Interdepartmental Working Group, updated procurement documentation to strengthen the procurement process, ensuring that contractual arrangements with school meal suppliers comply with food safety legislation, planning, building regulations, and health and safety requirements.”

It said it has begun webinars for the educational partners and school principals to support schools through the procurement process.

“All existing schools providing Hot School Meals will continue to do so. For new schools joining the programme for the first time in the 2025-2026 academic year, they have the option of providing the cold lunches while they are completing the procurement process for Hot School Meals.”