Two schools in the Shannonside region have been invited to join the Hot School Meals programme.
The three million euro investment in the scheme will see the addition of 81 DEIS schools nationwide.
The schools being invited to participate are currently availing of the cold lunch option of the School Meals Programme and today's announcement will enable an additional 16,000 primary school pupils to receive a hot meal every school day.
In the Shannonside region, St Marys National School, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford and Abbeycartron National School, Elphin, Co
Roscommon have been invited to the programme.
These schools will benefit from the extension of Hot School Meals from January 2022.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys says the Hot School Meals programme leads to better educational outcomes and an improvement in the overall wellbeing of children.
