Price increase on school meals will 'acutely' affect children in poverty
Summary
School meal prices in Northern Ireland will rise in January 2026 for the first time since 2017. Children in poverty not eligible for free meals will be most affected by these increases. Northern Ireland's Children's Commissioner calls for a rethink on school meal provisions amidst rising food inflation and living costs.Key Facts
- School meal prices in Northern Ireland will increase starting January 2026.
- Primary and special school meals will increase from £2.60 to £3.10, a 50p rise.
- Post-primary students will see a 19% increase in school canteen food prices.
- Children eligible for free school meals will not be affected by the price rise.
- The Education Authority (EA) is facing a £300 million funding gap.
- Inflation has increased by about 35% since the last price adjustment in 2017.
- Around 210,000 school meals are provided daily, with about 90,000 students receiving free meals.
- The average cost to produce a school meal is £4.28.
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