Speaking at last week’s meeting of the Western Education and Library Board, Mr. O'Reilly proposed the idea that free meal tickets for secondary school children in the Western Board area should be increased in value from £1.70 to at least £2.00.

    Following the meeting Mr. O'Reilly commented, "A free school meal ticket is currently valued at £1.70. A plate of chips, however, costs 95 pence. At this rate, I cannot see how children are able to get a properly balanced meal considering the value of their ticket." He referred to the school meals system in most secondary and grammar schools which operate a cafeteria type system.

    Mr. O'Reilly said he had compiled his own list noting the prices of different foods available to children at lunch time in schools:

    "If a plate of chips costs 95 pence and the meal ticket is only valued at £1.70 I don't see how children can get their meat and veg to go along with that to create a balanced dish."

    Mr. O'Reilly also emphasised the point that children eligible for free meal tickets often came from the most disadvantaged backgrounds and may not be fortunate enough to have eaten breakfast before leaving for school.

    "It is really important that the most vulnerable children are able to get a proper square meal at school. It may be the only decent meal they'll get to eat all day," he said.