Lisbon Chamber increases funding for school meals to 30 million euros by 2025

The Lisbon Chamber today increased funding for school meals for public schools by allocating an additional 4.5 million euros for a total of around 30 million until the end of the 2025 academic year.

In a closed session of the Municipal Executive, the proposal presented by Educational Adviser Sofia Ataide (CDS-PP) was made possible by votes against PCP, abstentions by BE and votes in favor of the others, namely PSD/CDS-PP, PS, Livre and Cidadãos Por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition).

In a statement, Councilor Sophia Ataide assured that “The Lisbon City Council (CML) will always support families in Lisbon.”

“We are very attentive to the impact of the rising cost of living on the nutrition of our children. For this reason, we guarantee a package of social support in CML, including this replenishment of funds for school meals, which will serve precisely to guarantee the nutrition of our children, accompanying the needs of families and caregivers at a time of great economic difficulties associated with rising inflation and interest rates,” said mayor of CDS-PP.

According to CML, this 2022/2023 school year, the demand for meals in kindergartens and public schools in the municipality has increased by about 20% compared to initial estimates.

“Among the reasons for this increase are worsening economic conditions (increasing inflation and interest rates) and the end of the pandemic context,” the municipality said.

During this school year, it is estimated that the average daily meals increased by 3,643 meals in Cycle 1 and Kindergarten and by 1,861 meals in Cycle 2 and 3 and High School, which is ” approximately 29,090 meals per day worldwide, including breakfast.” and snacks.

In addition to the increase in school meals, there is also a price update as a result of applying the 8.64% inflation rate released by the National Statistical Institute (INE) in April, the chamber said.