Summary
The school holiday food grant in Northern Ireland, which helped low-income families buy food during school breaks, was cut in March 2023 due to a lack of funds. A new bill aims to bring back these payments to support families struggling with food insecurity, especially during holidays.
Key Facts
- The school holiday food grant offered £27 per child every two weeks to families eligible for free school meals during school holidays.
- The payments were available from July 2020 to March 2023 and covered summer, Easter, Christmas, and half-term breaks.
- These payments stopped because the Department of Education lacked funds.
- The Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill seeks to reintroduce these payments, costing about £20 million a year.
- Families qualify for free school meals if their income is below £15,390 per year.
- Supporters argue that the payments help provide stability and food security for low-income children during holiday periods.
- Principals from schools like Malone Integrated College and Dungannon Primary back the bill, noting high levels of poverty among their students.
- There is concern that families earning just above the eligibility line also struggle but do not qualify for help.
