To ask the Minister of Education to confirm if the Education Authority are responsible for transporting meals to pre-schools that do not have the facilities to supply meals on-site, or if external contractors are used.

The Education Authority (EA) has confirmed that it is unable to provide a breakdown of transport costs for school meals to pre-schools as it is unable to disaggregate costs for pre-schools when vehicles are transporting meals to other school settings as well as to pre-schools.

The EA is responsible for the provision of school meals for pupils in funded pre-school education provision. Where meals are not produced on-site, local arrangements will be implemented based on the circumstances of each individual setting. This may involve transportation of meals by the EA or an external provider.