Kenny calls out Government’s empty promises on hot school meals
Kenny calls out Government’s empty promises on hot school meals - The Labour Party
- Time to put children before VAT cuts
Labour’s Education Spokesperson Eoghan Kenny TD speaking on the plinth today said that the Labour Party will use its Private Members’ Time this week in the Dáil to demand that Government prioritises children’s needs over an untargeted VAT cut for the hospitality industry.
Deputy Kenny said:
“Child poverty has reached crisis levels in Ireland. Every time we raise child poverty with this Government, Fianna Fáil points to its much-trumpeted hot school meals scheme. Hot school meals for every child is an important anti-poverty measure. But the reality is very different. I have spoken to many principals, particularly in rural areas, who are not yet in receipt of hot meals. In fact, some schools that are supposedly covered by the scheme are still only able to provide cold lunches to their pupils.
“Government loves to issue press releases about this programme, but the reality on the ground is that many children are being left behind. Before Ministers boast about this initiative, they should ensure that the scheme is fully funded, properly staffed, and universally available to all schools. That is the only way to make sure every child benefits, not just those lucky enough to be in certain schools or areas.
“Budgets are about choices. Right now, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are planning a blanket VAT reduction for the hospitality sector. That money would overwhelmingly benefit the largest companies, and there is no guarantee that it would be passed on to consumers or workers. Meanwhile, 5,014 children were recorded as homeless in July and more than 225,000 children are living below the poverty line. Families up and down the country cannot make ends meet.
“Labour’s motion this week will call for that money to be redirected to measures that directly address child poverty and homelessness. That means a targeted new child income support payment, an end to the scandal of children being evicted into homelessness, and a properly resourced Tenant in Situ scheme to stop families losing their homes when landlords sell up.
“We cannot accept a situation where children are going to school hungry, where schools are denied the resources they need to provide a hot meal, and where families are spending sleepless nights worrying about losing their homes. That is the shameful reality in 2025 under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.
“The choice before Government is simple: will they invest in our children, or will they prioritise a handout to the hospitality sector? Labour is clear – it is children who must come first. I am calling on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to put aside the spin, face up to the reality, and make the right choice in Budget 2026.”