As thousands of secondary students across Ireland continue to be excluded from equitable hot meal funding, a new campaign is urging policymakers, educators, and the public to address a glaring disparity in government support. While all primary schools receive fully funded hot meals at €3.20 per student per day, only 8% of secondary schools benefit from a limited pilot scheme, providing a mere €2.50 per student.

This campaign is to highlight the critical need to extend comprehensive meal funding to teenagers, whose nutritional needs are vital during their formative years. Advocates stress that this discrepancy not only impacts the physical health of secondary students but also their ability to focus, learn, and thrive academically.

A Disparity That Matters

Primary school children are guaranteed a hot meal every day, which is fantastic. But what happens when they transition to secondary school? Suddenly, that security disappears for many students, leaving them hungry and unsupported. Nutrition should not stop at age 12—it’s a matter of fairness, opportunity, and care.

Currently, the €2.50 allocated per student in secondary schools must cover both a hot meal and a drink, forcing many schools to make impossible choices about meal quality and provision. With only 8% of secondary schools covered by the pilot, the overwhelming majority of Irish teenagers are left without access to a reliable hot meal during their school day.

The Call for Change

The campaign invites the public to take meaningful action:

Contact your local politicians and ask why secondary school students are left behind in meal funding initiatives.

Join the conversation on social media using the hashtags #SecondarySchoolMeals #InvestInTeens

Share stories and experiences to highlight the real impact this funding gap has on students, families, and educators.

Research shows that consistent access to nutritious meals significantly improves student concentration, attendance, and overall wellbeing. Yet, secondary students—facing new academic pressures and personal challenges—are often excluded from this essential support. By extending full funding to all secondary schools, Ireland can create a fairer, healthier educational landscape for every student.

Leaving secondary students out of full hot meal funding is an issue we can no longer ignore. This campaign is about ensuring our children, no matter their age, have the nutrition they need to succeed