New pilot scheme providing hot meals to children in early learning and childcare settings

We are launching a new €150,000 pilot scheme to provide hot meals to children in early learning and childcare settings in areas of concentrated disadvantage.

Ensuring children can access nutritious meals & snacks is so important for their health, learning & development.

The results of the pilot scheme will inform decisions about the wider roll out of a hot meals programme, and work that is underway in my Department to develop a DEIS-type model for early learning and childcare.