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Taxpayers Fund 450 Million 'Free' School Meals in Minnesota
Two reviews found about 100,000 hot meals a day go uneaten and recommended age-based portions, cold lunch options and menu changes.
- Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary will seek Cabinet approval for changes to the €300 million Hot School Meals Scheme following government-commissioned reviews that identified nutritional and logistical shortcomings.
- The proposed overhaul follows findings that roughly a fifth of hot school meals—or around 100,000 daily—go uneaten, while the Oireachtas Education Committee previously raised concerns about nutritional quality and transparency.
- While 85% of children reported enjoying their meals, audits found students often chose processed items over healthier options, and portion sizes frequently failed to meet older students' caloric needs.
- Recommendations include implementing a standardised three-week menu cycle, offering age-appropriate portion sizes, and allowing students to choose between hot or cold lunches to reduce waste.
- Calleary intends to act on these findings "immediately," while the government remains committed to extending the scheme to secondary schools in Ireland "over the lifetime of this Government.
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left6Leaning Right2Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 38%
C 50%
12%
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