Access for all primary schoolchildren in the State to free hot meals under the school meals scheme has been widely welcomed. However, the scheme has faced criticism from some parents who have underlined a need for an improvement in the standard of food on offer.
In an article last week, French woman Claire-Marie Murray spoke about being “horrified at the quality” of the mass-produced food for schools in the State.
Introduced in 2003, the scheme started to include hot meals in 2019 with a small pilot scheme of 37 schools. Rate increases for the programme were introduced last year, bringing the rate up to 75c for breakfast, €1.70 for cold lunch, €2.50 for dinner and €3.20 for hot school meals.
Mandatory procurement targets for sourcing from local and organic farms are among the changes being called for by concerned NGOs and parents such as Murray who have seen the evolution of similar schemes abroad.
RM Block
We asked readers to share their thoughts and experiences of the free hot meals scheme. Their responses cover a huge range of issues, from food waste and nutritional value to single-use packaging and underfunding.
‘I believe we are creating a health crisis for our pupils’
Sinead Mangan (63), Co Roscommon
As a recently retired primary school principal, lecturer and school tutor I am horrified at what I see appearing in schools as school dinners. Everything is overcooked or left sitting in congealed lard until pupils get their turn to eat; sausages, burgers, goujons, chips etc. Not the food associated with good health. Pasta dishes are stodgy and covered in cream, even the smell of food entering school is the opposite of appealing.
Some parents send a second healthy lunch into school hoping that their children will not be tempted, is that not saying enough? There is so much waste, so much extra work for staff and it is not necessary for all pupils to avail of this scheme. Schools partake to please time-strapped parents but I believe we are creating a health crisis for our pupils. My grandchild in Brussels gets fresh, wholesome food daily, why can’t we provide the same?
‘The scheme is well intentioned but in my opinion it’s just a huge waste of food’
Jane Coakley (48), Co Cork
My son (11) is not complimentary about his school lunches and refuses to eat from the limited number of options available. It seems good quality food but deteriorates in the packaging and tastes largely of cardboard by the time he gets it. The scheme is well intentioned but in my opinion it’s just a huge waste of food, my son and another teacher I know say that most of the food provided is thrown away.
‘As a working mother it is a huge help and a financial assistance to me and my family’
Kiya Schon (45), Co Wexford
I am extremely happy and grateful for this wonderful resource. As a working mother it is a huge help and a financial assistance to me and my family. I am amazed at what is on offer for my daughter each day considering that the lunch company [FreshToday] only has €3.20 per meal to work with. Only 12 per cent of her nutrition comes from her school lunch daily, the other 88 per cent comes from home.
I am shocked that there is so much finger pointing and negativity about a free school meal being offered. If people are unhappy with the meals they have the option of being removed from the scheme, however it is in place for the most vulnerable children who rely on this provision. For some it may be the only hot meal they receive. I think people need to remember that when being so critical. There are so many children in need, especially in Deis schools and this is who the scheme was designed for.
If it’s not for you then pack your child a lunch, don’t ruin it for the rest of us who are delighted with the help.
‘The very first thing that needs to happen with school meals is that it needs to be properly funded’
Brian McGee (48), managing director of FreshToday, Co Wexford
School meals are funded at a rate of €3.20 per student. You cannot buy a bag of chips for that amount. The very first thing that needs to happen with school meals is that it needs to be properly funded. The School Meals Scheme has had one rate increase in 20 years. That increase only arrived in 2023, when the scheme was on the verge of collapse nationwide. There is a complete disparity between the expectation parents have of the scheme and the funding that’s available.
Recently there have been national media articles of suppliers pulling out of schools and out of the scheme due to viability. Until the scheme is funded with credible rates per student, it is pointless talking about organic produce.
‘I think the long-term goal should be for new schools to be built with kitchens and cafeterias’
Elizabeth Bolger (43), Co Dublin
When we lived in Barcelona my daughter went to the local state school and had a hot lunch cooked in the school kitchen every day. Every school is built with a kitchen and cafeteria for the children to eat lunch together. The menu is seasonal with organic and local produce. There was a great variety of dishes, with fish once a week and yoghurt or fruit for dessert. The quality was really high and it was great knowing that my daughter was happily eating a healthy meal each day.
Her school in Dublin hasn’t started the hot lunch programme yet but I think the long-term goal here should be for new schools to be built with kitchens and cafeterias to allow students to eat healthy freshly prepared food together, which is also great for them socially. It also eliminates packaging waste as proper cutlery and plates can be used.
‘Oil-soaked brown packaging, a weird orange tinge to every meal and ‘bounceable’ food’
Gillian Carroll (40s), Cork City
Having easily made more than 1,000 lunches for my children at this stage – but who’s counting – I really wanted the school lunch scheme to work. At first I turned a deaf ear to the children’s rumbles about all options tasting the same. I turned a blind eye to the uneaten packages arriving home every evening, but I eventually had to fess up. I wouldn’t eat them myself. Oil-soaked brown packaging from fat seeping through, weird orange tinge to every meal, food that seems like it might be ‘bounceable’.
I had to bite the bullet and come back to the daily grind of making lunches at home. The reality is small primary-going children only need soup and a roll and a piece of fruit, or a simple sandwich. They don’t need grease-laden hot meals, despite best efforts and good intentions. My opinion: Nice idea but must try harder.
‘This programme seems to require parents to take on even more responsibility for balancing children’s diets’
Deirdre McGrath (48), Co Dublin
My son’s school has not started the programme yet. I was initially delighted to think he would receive a hot meal at lunchtime. Now I am not so sure.
I have some concerns. I am annoyed this programme seems to require parents to take on even more responsibility for balancing children’s diets. The minimum recommendation is about five fruit and veg per day, with at least two fruit and three vegetables. In my head that means two vegetables to be included in each dinner the child has. I had a look at menus from several providers and they did not seem to have this.
Another concern is the idea of treat Fridays. I don’t want my child eating treat foods at school. I want to be able to make a decision about giving them a pizza at home, not feel bad because they have already had this in school. I am also concerned about packaging and waste. I’m trying to reduce plastic and single-use items in the house and now it seems this will be increasing for my children.
I like the thought of a hot meal, of a few choices, of food from local sources. I would like to see options such as soup and bread, very healthy and nutritious as an everyday choice for the lunch menu.
