A new lunch initiative for primary schools will give thousands of Irish children access to vegan meals.

TD Regina Doherty announced that the Hot School Meals scheme is to include up to 36 schools and each school involved must provide two menu choices a day as well as a vegan option. It will also be mandatory to take students’ religious and cultural dietary requirements into consideration.

It has been hailed among the vegan community as a great step forward for the future.

The scheme will begin in September on a trial basis.