The Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley today announced the launch of Bia Blasta (Delicious Food), the pre-school nutrition programme, to provide daily lunches for pre-school children in disadvantaged areas.

Around €4.2 million in funding will be provided to ensure that 25,000 children get a nutritious meal while attending early learning and care services with the highest concentrations of disadvantage in the country.

It will tackle child food poverty, reducing the risk of children going hungry or missing meals. It will also ensure they learn about and enjoy nutritious foods, with the help of a dedicated dietitian to advise and support participating services.

Mealtimes will be provided within a learning framework that builds children’s experiences of nutritious foods, along with the experience of preparing, sharing, and clearing up after meals.

This is the latest initiative under the Equal Start funding model, which provides universal and targeted measures for children in disadvantaged areas in early learning and care and school-age childcare.

Here is a link to some Frequently Asked Questions:

Equal Start – Bia Blasta Frequently Asked Questions