Hot lunches and Deis schools

Sir, – It is praiseworthy that the School Meals Scheme, which currently provides hot lunches to many Deis secondary schools, has been expanded to provide a free hot lunch to all primary schools. However, it is incomprehensible that the post-primary schools designated Deis in 2022, schools serving communities with the highest concentrations of deprivation, are still not funded to provide a free hot lunch to their pupils.

How can it be that the most advantaged primary school pupils serving the most affluent families in the State are more entitled to a hot lunch than some of the most disadvantaged post-primary school pupils? Before the new school year begins in September, the Departments of Education and Social Protection should rectify this situation and provide a free hot lunch to all Deis post-primary pupils. – Yours, etc,

NIALL MOYNIHAN,

Coláiste Bríde,