Hot dinners on the menu of Kilkenny school
STUDENTS in a Kilkenny school will be able to avail of hot dinners in the coming year as part of a pilot project being rolled out by the Government.
Graig Na Manach Buac, in Graiguenamanagh has been chosen to be part of a trial that will see 36 schools nationwide provide hot school meals to the students.
The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, TD announced the pilot project will build on the experience of the proof-of-concept project which has been running at Our Lady of Lourdes National School in Goldenbridge, Inchicore, Dublin 8. The pilot project will see 6,600 pupils receiving a hot meal at lunchtime each day.
Announcing the expansion of the programme, Minister Doherty said: “A hot school meal is not just about nutrition but it also guarantees a better education.
“The research out there shows us that children who benefit from a daily nutritious hot dinner have greater focus and better learning outcomes. I would like to thank all the schools who applied for the pilot – we had an enthusiastic response.
“I am delighted to be extending this pilot to the 36 schools announced today. They represent a good cross sample of schools and I look forward to the insights we gather from their experiences.”