From this month, post-primary children will be eligible for free dinners in the same way as those at primary or nursery.
Education minister John O’Dowd says a healthy, nutritionally balanced school meal contributes to a child’s overall health and wellbeing, to learning and cognitive development. This, in turn, helps their academic performance.
Too many families are not accessing the support they are entitled to, however. Department of Education statistics show just more than 80 per cent of those entitled to free school meals (FSM) take them. FSM are provided to children whose parents receive benefits or whose family income is less than £16,190.
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