Vol. 245 Tuesday, No. 6 26 January 2016 DÍOSPÓIREACHTAÍ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES SEANAD ÉIREANN TUAIRISC OIFIGIÚIL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised) Insert Date Here 26/01/2016A00050Business of Seanad 315 26/01/2016B00200Commencement Matters 315 26/01/2016B00300Disadvantaged Status ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������315 26/01/2016C00200Visit of Chinese Delegation 317 26/01/2016C00400Commencement Matters (Resumed) 317 26/01/2016D00900Obesity Levels 319 26/01/2016F00700Labour Activation Measures 321 26/01/2016O00100Order of Business 325 26/01/2016Z00300Funding of Cystic Fibrosis Medication: Motion ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������336 26/01/2016Z00600National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 (Section 44) (Variation of Indemnity Amount) Order 2016: Referral to Joint Committee 337 26/01/2016CC00100Road Traffic Bill 2016: Committee and Remaining Stages 337 26/01/2016MM01500 Credit Guarantee (Amendment) Local Government Review: Statements ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������365 SEANAD ÉIREANN Dé Máirt, 26 Eanáir 2016 Tuesday, 26 January 2016 Chuaigh an i gceannas ar 230 pm Machnamh agus Paidir. Reflection and Prayer. 26/01/2016A00050Business of Seanad 26/01/2016A00100An Cathaoirleach: I welcome the former world boxing champion Bernard Dunne and his group to the Visitors Gallery We could do with him here on some occasions to keep order I have received notice from Senator Gerard P Craughwell that, on the motion for the Commence- ment of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm the terms of reference for the current review of disadvantaged schools and the date by which the recommended reforms will be implemented and to outline the funding that will be available to implement a new delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, programme to cater for the new entrants who will inevitably emerge from the review I have also received notice from Senator Catherine Noone of the following matter: The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline his Department’s policy on imposing a “no fry zone” within which fast food outlets cannot open near schools I have also received notice from Senator Marie Moloney of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Social Protection to state if she has proposals to include unregistered unemployed persons in activation programmes I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion and they will be taken now 26/01/2016B00200Commencement Matters 26/01/2016B00300Disadvantaged Status 26/01/2016B00400Senator Gerard P. Craughwell: I welcome the Minister I join the Cathaoirleach in wel- coming a great sportsman, Bernard Dunne, to the Visitors Gallery I am honoured to be here in 315 Seanad Éireann his presence and to be speaking on a matter that is very close to his heart I would like to ac- knowledge that a man of his standing having an interest in DEIS schools, in students generally and in the shaping of children is evidence of the great service he does for the State We should honour him for that In saying this, I am not taking away from the work done by my colleague, Senator Eamonn Coghlan It is an honour to have two great sportspeople in the Chamber As the Minister knows, I have asked her to confirm the terms of reference for the cur- rent review of the disadvantaged schools and the date by which recommended reforms will be implemented I also ask her to outline the funding that will be available to implement the new delivering equality of opportunity in schools, DEIS, programme in order to cater for the new entrants that will inevitably emerge from this review I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad to debate this important issue There is no doubt that the DEIS programme, first introduced in 2005, has been extremely successful. At- tendance rates have improved, the gap in retention rates between DEIS and non-DEIS schools has narrowed and there have been considerable improvements in maths and reading scores There is also no doubt that some schools currently included in the DEIS programme no longer have the same level of need as previously Similarly, some schools previously outside the DEIS programme have now become centres of disadvantaged communities and urgently require ac- cess to the supports provided under the programme I understand both the overall DEIS programme and the school meals programme which is operated by the Department of Social Protection are under review Given the complexity of the matter with regard to DEIS designation, what are the terms of reference for the Minister’s review and by what date will the recommendations of the review be implemented? Will she also outline the funding that will be available to implement the new DEIS programme to cater for the new entrants that will inevitably emerge as a result of the review? The DEIS programme has many objectives, one of which is the elimination of food pov- erty This is an essential foundation stone on which educational attainment is built No child can learn when he or she is hungry I am concerned that there are now serious anomalies in disadvantaged communities Some DEIS schools have funding for all their children, 60 cent for breakfast - a rather paltry sum - and €140 for lunch However, some schools are only 50% funded The Minister may say this is a matter for the Department of Social Protection, but a cross-departmental approach is needed to deal with this matter The issue of child food poverty should be an intrinsic part of the educational policy Dr Paul Dowds of St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, has said there is no systematic strat- egy in place to prevent children from being hungry in schools He has reminded us that unlike countries such as Britain, France and Poland, Irish schools have historically had a poor infra- structure for school meals and are dependent on external suppliers In Ireland, there is no regulation of school meal suppliers and quality depends on the in- tegrity of the supplier I ask the Minister, together with the Minister for Social Protection, to review the following issues: increasing the budget for the school meals programme; increasing the allocation for breakfast and lunch by 5% to 63 cent and €147, respectively - these have not been increased for over a decade and suppliers are struggling to supply; establishing a list of.