School Meals Scheme – important update

30th March 2020

The Department of Education and Skills (DES) has confirmed that the School Meals Scheme will resume from this week, with some notable changes.

Following the latest restrictions announced by the Government on Friday, The DES have confirmed that either An Post or local community/voluntary groups, via a Community Champion in each county, may assist schools with the delivery of food to vulnerable pupils under the scheme. Each county has a Community Champion whose role is to direct queries and requests for assistance to local community and voluntary groups.

INTO and the IPPN are advising school principals and home school community liaison teachers, whose boards of management have decided how the scheme will operate in their school, to liaise with school completion services to ensure that pupils from all families who wish to avail of the school meals scheme during the coming weeks receive the food once a week.

INTO and the IPPN wish to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of school principals and all those working within their schools, who continue to implement exceptional measures for the benefit of primary school pupils in these unprecedented times.

It is important that all of our members adhere to the advice of government regarding physical distancing, while supporting the school meals initiative.

A copy of the letter sent to schools is here.

Effective 6pm, on Monday 30 March, school buildings will no longer be accessible to school staff until Easter Sunday April 12 (except in the case of school staff who are involved in planning for the distribution of school meals to vulnerable pupils).

A full list of Local Champions is available below.

Carlow

Paula

Hughes

086 0439172

phughes@carlowdevelopment.ie

Cavan

Barbara

Kearns

087 7373810

bkearns@ccld.ie

Clare