Primary schools are to be given 1,000 refrigeration units in a drive to reverse the dramatic decline in milk consumption among children.
When the school milk scheme was introduced in 1982, Irish children drank 2.6 million gallons of milk. But by last year consumption had declined to only 825,000 gallons, a decline of 66 per cent.
Recent research showed children were unhappy with the temperature at which milk was served in schools, and many favoured fizzy soft drinks.
Now, in a bid to give primary school children a healthier option and to promote milk consumption, a revitalised scheme will be launched this week by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan.
She will announce that 1,000 fridge units will be given free to schools - half to meet existing needs of the scheme and the other 500 to new schools that join it.
The revamping of the scheme will also involve a major health information campaign to try to change children's tastes.
A wider range of dairy products such as yogurts, low-fat and flavoured milks will be offered.
The dairy companies supplying schools have committed to providing a wider range of milk products and will also provide new packaging and designs for the products, as well as new refrigeration units.
The scheme, which has operated in 2,000 primary schools, has been heavily supported by the European Union and the Department of Agriculture.
Last year EU funding was just over €900,000. The department's input was €240,000.
Much of the promotional work for the revamped scheme will be carried out by the National Dairy Council.
There has been increasing concern in recent years about children's eating habits and the growing problem with obesity in youngsters.
A cross-Border nutrition survey in schools identified the consumption of fizzy drinks and the lack of interest in milk consumption as a major problem.