Laois teacher slams “shocking” school meal waste
The Hot School Meals programme was rolled out in May 2024. File image
A PORTLAOISE teacher has criticised what he describes as “shocking” wastage on the Hot School Meals Programme.
Tommy Mulligan, a teacher at Holy Family Senior School and a county councillor for the Portlaoise Municipal District, wants a healthy lunch scheme to be introduced as an alternative in primary schools.
At the latest monthly meeting of Laois Co Council, he said: “Many are questioning the nutritional quality and value of the meals and the lack of variety. Some suppliers are offering meals that are heavily processed, which is leading to a huge amount of wastage.
“As a chair in different schools, I've seen the wastage firsthand and it is shocking. A lot of children don't like hot meals. A lot of children are very picky.”
Cllr Mulligan said that, with a cost of roughly €3.20 per meal, a whole classroom would cost €5,500 a year, with a potentially huge amount of wastage stitched up in there if the meals weren't actually consumed.
He also criticised the fact that the scheme was implemented without adequate consultation with key people such as school staff, dieticians, parents and families.
Cllr Mulligan requested that the council write to Minister Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, calling on him to introduce a 'Healthy Lunch Programme' as an alternative to the Hot School Meals Programme. The aim would be to improve nutritional outcomes for children, reducing food waste and increasing variety and choice in school meals.
The Independent councillor highlighted an ongoing Oireachtas review into the Hot School Meals Programme, centred on issues he had previously raised.
Supporting the motion, Cllr Aisling Moran suggested that in-house kitchens could be implemented in schools nationwide. Referring to the Japanese model, she said that Irish schools could adopt a similar system, whereby lunchtimes were arranged in such a way that meals were planned and served by students, who also tidied up after themselves.
She said: “They promote teamwork, discipline and healthy eating habits.”
Cllr Moran added that, in the case of the Japanese example, all ingredients were seasonal and sourced locally. She said: “I agree with what Tommy is saying, that there is such wastage at the moment.”
Cllr Mulligan’s motion was unopposed and will be forwarded to the minister.
