Sligo Councillor calls on Minister for Education to provide free hot lunches in all secondary schools

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

A Sligo Councillor has called on Minister for Education, Hildegarde Naughton to provide “Warm hot lunches in all secondary schools within the state as a matter of urgency.”

Cllr Arthur Gibbons’ motion before the December meeting of Sligo County Council called on the local authority to write to Minister Naughton with the motion being supported by his fellow councillors.

Currently the School Meals Scheme funds schools to provide food to school children with all DEIS and non-DEIS primary schools deemed eligible for hot meals. Post-primary schools are not eligible to apply for hot meals, but they can get other food options under the scheme.

Addressing the Council Chamber to speak on behalf of his motion, Cllr Gibbons said, “It doesn’t mean a child don’t need a meal because it is not a designated school. It shouldn’t have to be a teacher’s job to check if children have lunch. I really feel it should be rolled out across the board.”

Those sentiments were shared by Cllr Ann Higgins who said, “We keep saying we are one of the richest countries in the world but there is a lot of hidden poverty.”

Cllr Higgins referred to the popularity of the breakfast club at the ATU when she said, “In the ATU we introduced a free breakfast scheme. We thought we would get 50 students a day but there are 450 students a day availing of it.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.