NI School Milk Returns

In a very timely move, the European Union's School Milk Scheme - which currently operates only in nursery and primary schools - will in future be offered also to secondary schools across Northern Ireland.

The announcement by NI Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew comes in the week of the prestigious NI Milk Cup International Youth Soccer Tournament - an event that has seen the launch of stars such as David Beckham - whose participation marked the beginning of a long professional career.

Minister Gildernew said: "Under devolution we have the opportunity to make choices that make sense for local communities.

"In this instance we have been able to secure Executive agreement that the Departments of Agriculture, Education and Health will extend the existing cost-sharing arrangement, so that secondary schools will receive the same level of funding under the scheme as nursery and primary schools," she said.

In order to maximise the benefit of the scheme, the Executive has agreed to a proposal from that a 'top-up' subsidy for school milk supplied to secondary schools be provided on the same basis as for nursery and primary schools.

"This is a good result for all concerned, not only on the nutritional benefits front, but also for the local dairy industry and particularly producers.

"I am grateful to my ministerial colleagues in Education and Health for their continued support for this Scheme," she said.

(BMcC)