Ireland’s free hot school meals programme is set for changes aimed at improving nutrition, offering more suitable portions and reducing the amount of food left uneaten.
Minister for Social Protection Mr Dara Calleary outlined the proposed reforms after Cabinet discussed two Government-commissioned reviews of the scheme. A cold lunch option, a standardised three-week menu and better provision for children with additional dietary needs are among the measures being considered.
Discussions with schools and suppliers will now take place, with changes intended for the 2027/28 cycle.
Attention Turns From Expansion to Food Quality
Following its nationwide extension in September 2025, the programme covers approximately 3,200 primary schools and more than 550,000 school children.
Mr Calleary defended the scheme’s rapid growth and said it continues to provide valuable support to families. However, he acknowledged that improving the food itself must now become a central priority.
The programme is estimated to save a household with two primary school children about €1,152 annually.
An Taoiseach Mr Micheál Martin also recognised the scheme’s benefits while accepting that its quality and waste levels need attention.
Uneaten Meals Raise Difficult Questions
The reviews indicate that roughly one in five meals supplied; approximately 100,000 a day, goes uneaten when pupil absences are taken into account, the proportion falls to 11.1%.
Mr Calleary said his department takes food waste seriously, while noting that children being absent explains part of the problem.
There are also questions about how waste is measured. Food Policy Ireland chief executive Ms Ruth Hegarty cited an estimated 6.3 million kilogrammes of food wasted over a school year, but questioned the basis for the reported uneaten-meal percentage because direct food waste audits had not been conducted in schools.
The parent survey suggests that unfinished lunches predate the programme; almost half of respondents said their children previously brought food home uneaten.
Smaller Portions for Younger Pupils, More for Older Children
A nutritional assessment examined 360 meals from 15 suppliers and included visits to 54 schools.
It identified a problem with serving the same portion size across different age groups. Meals that may be sufficient for younger pupils can provide too few calories for older children.
The review also found that children tended to select foods higher in fat, salt and sugar when those choices appeared alongside healthier alternatives.
Proposed changes would introduce portions suited to different ages and a standardised menu rotating over three weeks. Menus would also be adapted for special schools, special classes and children with specific dietary requirements.
Parents Want Greater Lunch Flexibility
A possible cold lunch option emerged as a strong theme in the feedback, with 84% of parents supporting its availability.
The review recommends allowing children to choose a hot or cold meal on a given day, suggesting that greater flexibility could help reduce waste.
The Ipsos/Behaviour & Attitudes research gathered responses from 86,637 parents and guardians, 6,884 children, 2,420 teachers and principals, and 47 suppliers, with 747 schools participating.
Three-quarters of children said they ate at least some of their meal, while 63% of teachers and principals considered the programme’s overall impact positive.
Meal ordering was strongest among younger children. Participation averaged 97% from Junior Infants to First Class, compared with 81% in Fifth and Sixth Class. The overall average was 85%.
The Government remains committed to extending the programme to secondary schools during its term. Mr Calleary has yet to announce a timetable for that expansion.
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