Why do some schools get free meals and others don’t?

Jinglejangle69

Simple question.

I thought all kids were meant to be treated equally under the constitution?

Half of schools in “disadvantaged” areas get free hot meals.

The other half's parents have the provide food at their own cost.

Anyone???

One eyed Jack

Depends on a couple of different factors, but basically it’s the school that applies for it, it doesn’t apply to children in the way you’re thinking.

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/29a3ff-school-meals-scheme/

It’s hoped that the scheme can be expanded to more schools and organisations eventually -

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2023-02-09/53/

byhookorbycrook

Schools must have official "DEIS" status, which is quite difficult to achieve. it's not a question of just applying for the status, there are lots of statistic boxes that have to be ticked. You could have two schools within a km of each other, one meeting the DES strict criteria and the other just missing out. There are also "degrees" of DEIS- band 1, Band 2 and DEIS rural, so even within the DEIS system, there are varying degrees of support.

Jinglejangle69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120276532#Comment_120276532

Are you sure its just DEIS?

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/bcfe0-minister-humphreys-announces-extension-of-hot-school-meals-programme/

Says non DEIS in here.

byhookorbycrook

"The €3 million investment will see 81 DEIS schools invited to join the programme from January 2022." Non-DEIS applied  "Invitations for expressions of interest were issued to 705 primary schools (612 DEIS and 93 non-DEIS) in November 2020. A total of 281 (256 DEIS and 25 non-DEIS) expressions of interest were received in respect of 52,148 children." but only 81 DEIS got the extension.

Gusser09

My son gets it in school. Its a special school for severely disabled kids though. They deserve it.

Jinglejangle69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277528#Comment_120277528

Sorry, what point are you making?

EDIT, I get your point now thanks.

That’s why I started the thread.

Jinglejangle69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120277556#Comment_120277556

Absolutely.