Surveys on the School Milk Subsidy Scheme

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is to survey schools and parents regarding their participation in the School Milk Subsidy Scheme.

The surveys are aimed at helping the Department to understand the views of schools and parents towards the Scheme. Participation by schools and pupils in the Scheme has been steadily declining in recent years and the Department is keen to understand the rationale behind falling uptake.

The surveys are intended to gain an understanding of why participation in the School Milk Scheme is falling and also to get a better picture about attitudes towards fruit and vegetables in schools.

We ask that all schools complete the survey, both those who do and who do not, currently participate in the scheme. Schools are asked to distribute the survey link to parents and encourage parents to take part to ensure their voice is heard alongside the feedback from each school.

The 8 week surveys are now open until 10 January 2025 and can be found on NI Direct - Citizen Space;

For Parents: https://consultations2.nidirect.gov.uk/daera/school-milk-subsidy-scheme-survey-for-parents

The responses submitted will help DAERA determine what steps if any need to be taken moving forward.

Yours sincerely

The NI Food Strategy Framework Team
Sustainable Agri-Food Development Division,
DAERA Food, Farming and Rural Affairs Group