Local Minister Heather Humphreys is seeking expressions of interest in the roll-out of Hot School Meals to all Primary Schools.
The Social Protection Minister's Department has written to every primary school in the country, in plans to extend it to all children in the coming years.
The Hot School Meals Programme was introduced in 2019 and has grown significantly from a small pilot of 30 schools to a programme providing nutritious hot meals to almost 500 primary schools.
It's currently benefiting over 90 thousand children at present.
These numbers will increase sharply with the roll out to all remaining DEIS primary schools and Special schools in September coming on stream to the hot meals initiative.
Speaking to Northern Sound News, Minister Heather Humphreys says "From 2024, the roll-out of Hot Meals will start to all remaining primary schools. This will be done on a phased basis. The report recommends universal provision by 2030 but my ambition is to move faster.
Minister Humphreys added that "Given we have already expanded from 30 to 1,000 schools in just over two and a half years, I believe we can reach all primary schools sooner than that.
