Inquiry regarding school food (no. 770)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary sitting
Date: 2025-09-15 21:23
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 30
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 15m
AI Summaries: 30/30 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Interpellation No. 770 addressed issues concerning the funding and quality of school meals, which was submitted by the Centre Party faction, led by Vadim Belobrovtsev, to the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas. The questioners emphasized that the state's contribution to compensating for school lunches has remained at 1 euro since 2018, which is insufficient due to inflation (especially the rising cost of foodstuffs). At the same time, the Ministry of Social Affairs plans to introduce new, healthier menu requirements (less salt and sugar), the assurance of which is challenging with the current funding. The questioners asked whether the state should increase its contribution and whether compensation for kindergarten food should also be started.
Minister Kallas supported the Ministry of Social Affairs' plan to improve food quality, noting that she has written confirmation from both the ministry and the caterers that the new requirements themselves will not significantly raise the price. However, she conceded that inflation has raised the price of school meals. Kallas preferred a solution where the funding for school meals (after the necessary increase) would be transferred from the state budget to the revenue base of local governments (LG), as the obligation to provide school meals legally rests with the LGs. She explained that although the coalition has set this goal, the 2026 state budget does not allow for the contribution to be increased (due to the growth of defense expenditures), meaning the transfer of funding to the LG revenue base is postponed until 2027 at the latest. Subsequent questions addressed the specifics of increasing the LG revenue base and why the alleged budget deficit of 800 million euros does not allow for the immediate increase in school meal funding.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Vadim Belobrovtsev was the most active speaker, submitting an interpellation and also asking a clarifying question regarding the government's budgetary funds. He represents the Centre Party faction (the opposition).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
To summarize, Interpellation No. 770 concerning school meals was submitted by six members of the Riigikogu, with Vadim Belobrovtsev acting as the presenter on behalf of the interpellators.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi introduced Interpellation No. 770 concerning school meals, which had been submitted by members of the Riigikogu on May 12, 2025, and asked Vadim Belobrovtsev to come to the rostrum to deliver the presentation on behalf of the interpellators.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev emphasizes that the query regarding the funding of school meals remains relevant because the state's contribution has been stuck at the outdated level of one euro since 2018. This amount neither allows for the fulfillment of the Ministry of Social Affairs' new, healthier menu requirements nor corresponds to the current high inflation. He demands that the government significantly increase the state contribution for compensating both school and kindergarten meals, especially given that food prices have risen by over 40% in the last two years.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev stresses that despite plans to improve school meals, the state's food allowance of one euro per day has remained unchanged for several years, which neither covers inflation nor reduces the burden on parents. He then asks the Minister of Education whether the state should increase its contribution to kindergarten and school meals, and whether one euro is sufficient given today's inflation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the listeners and subsequently gave the floor to Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas to answer the interpellators' questions from the Riigikogu rostrum.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi called upon the Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, to answer questions posed by the interpellators at the Riigikogu rostrum.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, stated that the updates to the food policies in kindergartens and schools will improve quality without significantly raising prices. However, inflation is changing the situation, and the coalition has decided to channel the increase in food subsidies directly into the revenue base of local governments, an increase which cannot be implemented in full in next year's budget.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas supports the Ministry of Social Affairs’ proposal to update kindergarten and school menus, confirming that the new requirements will not raise catering costs. However, she admits that due to inflation, the state’s current contribution to compensating for school meals is insufficient. As a solution, she prefers moving the state subsidy into the revenue base of local governments to end the confusion surrounding funding, although the necessary increase in support is postponed due to next year’s budget constraints.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This address conveys deep gratitude, notes that there are questions, and invites Vladimir Arkhipov to speak.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov voiced skepticism about the plans to boost the revenue base of local municipalities by using personal income tax proceeds in order to standardize school catering. He questioned how it would be guaranteed that these funds are specifically allocated to catering, stressing that the current system is unequal and that children in both wealthier and poorer local governments must be ensured equal access to school meals.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov raises the issue of ensuring the standardization of school meals by addressing how to increase the revenue base of local governments and defining that supplementary revenue derived from personal income tax should be allocated specifically to catering services, while taking into consideration the differing revenue bases among various municipalities.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas emphasized that school meals must be uniform for all children, and the proposal is to fully transfer the obligation for paying for and financing school meals to local municipalities, along with additional funding to reduce disparities between municipalities.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
The Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, confirms that school meals are equally accessible to children within the municipality. However, because inflation has increased local government costs and the state has not raised its support, a proposal is being made that the state should first raise school meal funding to a fair level and then provide the support directly to the school operators, who bear the legal obligation to ensure school catering, thereby ending the unjustified withholding of funds from municipalities.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is perplexed by the contradictions in the government's financial policy, asking the minister directly whether the 800 million euros that unexpectedly appeared in the state budget actually exists, when at the same time it is claimed that there is no money to make state contributions that have required increases for years, and demands an explanation as to why this money is not being directed towards these needs.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev expressed confusion, stating that 800 million euros had suddenly appeared in the state budget, and while there are many possibilities for spending it, there is simultaneously no money to increase the state contribution—a need that has existed for years. He then questioned whether the money actually exists and why it isn’t being directed toward that purpose.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas explains that the state operated more frugally than planned in 2025, resulting in an 800 million one-time surplus, or saving, which, contrary to expectations, will not be carried over into subsequent fiscal years.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas stated that 800 million less than planned will be spent in 2025, and this remaining balance will not be carried over to the following year.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Peeter Ernits to speak.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He asks how much school lunch costs in Estonian schools, in various other schools, and in different principalities, and whether any limits or caps have been established regarding those costs.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits acknowledges the substantial sum that has been put forward, but he asks directly what the cost limits for food are across Estonia's various schools and regions, referring to them ironically as "petty kingdoms."
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas emphasized that their knowledge is restricted solely to the schools they administer, which is why they lack information regarding, for example, the amount of school meal funding in Setomaa municipality.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
He says he only knows the limits of his own schools and doesn't know the amount of school lunch funding for Setomaa Municipality.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas inquired whether, during the budget negotiations, a proposal would be put forward to adjust the revenue base of local municipalities so that they receive proportionally correct amounts, covering both Tallinn and Võru.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas directly asks the minister whether he intends, during the forthcoming budget negotiations, to propose directing a specific amount into the revenue base of local governments, in order to ensure a proportionally fair distribution among all local entities, including both Tallinn and Võru.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asked Anti Allast to come and speak.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Minister of Education and Research Kristina Kallas confirmed that the details regarding the transfer of education subsidies (including school meal funding, but excluding teachers' salaries) to the revenue base of local governments are still being calculated. This is because, prior to the transfer, fair support must be guaranteed for local governments with a smaller revenue base, which is why the goal has been set to implement this measure no later than 2027.
Haridus- ja teadusminister Kristina Kallas
AI Summary
Kristina Kallas stated that the transfer of school meal funding and other educational grants to the revenue base of local governments cannot be finalized in 2026. This is because the distribution based on the model needs to be calculated precisely, and the total amount of these grants must be increased before the transfer takes place. However, the coalition plans to move forward with this by 2027 at the latest.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Minister, confirms that there are no further questions, opens and closes the debate, and declares the proceedings on this agenda item concluded.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the Minister, confirming that there were no further questions, and subsequently conducted the procedure for the agenda item, opening and immediately closing the debate, thereby declaring the consideration of the item concluded.