More than a Meal CLG (More than a Meal / Food Policy Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation More than a Meal CLG

Date published 13 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Public policy or programme

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026

Specific Details School Meals Programme

Intended results Inform the DPOs of the current landscape of school meal provision in Ireland and models of provision, and how this differs from international best practice, based on our research Advocate for a whole systems multi-dimensional policy approach to school meals integrating health and nutrition, green public procurement/local sourcing, quality jobs, and food education Advocate for a not-for-profit community-based model of delivery for school meals Request opportunity to present at JOC on Education and Youth hearings on 'Evaluating the Impacts of the Hot School Meals Scheme'

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Ruth Hegarty

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

Initial email sent to set-out our position and share our vision for school meals, and to suggest the possibility of presenting at JOC. Subsequent emails were exchanged solely for the purpose of setting up a meeting.

Virtual Meeting (2-5)

Online meetings took place with Jen Cummins TD, Senator Linda Nelson-Murray, and Cllr Fiona Connelly to discuss our research on school meals, the need for Ireland to follow international best practice, and our intention to pilot a community-based approach.

Meeting (1)

An in-person meeting took place in Dail Eireann with Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh TD to discuss our research on school meals, the need for Ireland to follow international best practice, and our intention to pilot a community-based approach.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Jen Cummins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Linda Nelson Murray Senator (Seanad)

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Fiona Connelly Councillor (Dublin City Council)