Revealed: the Galway preschools set to benefit from free lunch funding
Over two dozen preschool and childcare services in Galway will receive part of the €4.2 million in funding under the Bia Blasta lunch scheme.
Bia Blasta, translated to ‘Delicious Food’, is a school nutrition programme providing daily lunches and food education to pre-school children in disadvantaged areas.
During mealtimes, young students will have the opportunity to learn about healthy and nutritious food decisions while also taking part in the preparation, sharing, and clearing of meals with other students.
Children, disability, and equality minister, Norma Foley TD said: “There is very strong evidence that giving nutritious lunches to children in disadvantaged areas will combat the risk of hunger as well as improving their attention levels and overall wellbeing.”
€3.2 million is available to the program as well as an additional €1 million for schools to purchase approved items of up to a €1,000 value that will assist in the initiative – like fridges, freezers, ovens, and dishwashers.
A total of 25,000 children are expected to receive benefit from this scheme.
Bia Blasta is the first funding of its kind to provide meals for the free, universal two-year preschool through the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme. Regulation requires full day care centres that host children for more than five hours a day, to provide two meals and two snacks to every student. The free three-hour preschool service typically does not provide food service and students bring lunch from home.
The funding in this initiative is to prioritise providing food to those three-hour, free preschool students.
The following is the list of County Galway schools expected to receive the funding:
Ballinasloe Community Childcare Group
Ballinasloe Social Services Preschool
Ballyconneely Community Playgroup & Afterschool Service
Happyfeet Pre-school & After-school
Kiltormer Breakfast and Afterschool Club
Little All Stars Montessori & Creche
Galway East TD Seán Canney said: “I am delighted to see so many Galway East services included in the first roll-out. This will make a real difference to children, parents, and early years educators right across the region.”