Varadkar claims the hot school programme could run into trouble in the summer months.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said there may be “logistical complications” when it comes to rolling out the State’s hot school meals programme during the summer holidays.
The Taoiseach has added that the Government would examine the proposal and other extensions of the scheme will be prioritised.
The news comes after children’s charity Barnardos called for the Hot School Meals Programme to be extended to secondary school students and for it to be offered during holiday periods
The programme first started in 2019 as a pilot scheme, serving only 30 schools. It has since expanded and now serves hot meals to 90,000 children in 500 schools.
The rollout of this scheme will be extended to remaining primary schools classed as Deis or disadvantaged schools in September, according to the government.
The Taoiseach said that Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, is currently leading this expansion.
According to The Journal, he confirmed Humphreys has written to schools “that are non-Deis to see if they’d be interested in participating in this programme as well”.
He added: “I think providing that in the summer period, during the holidays, would involve logistical complications.
“We will examine it, but the priority is Deis schools and special schools first, then other schools that are interested second, and then we could look at the possibility of extending into the holiday period.”
