Stories

Sun, 08 Mar 2026

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 Why holiday meal money for cash-strapped parents is back on the menu

The school holiday food grant was axed by the Department of Education in 2023 due to a lack of money.

* Over half of the pupils at Malone Integrated College receive free school meals, and many more experience "food insecurity" during holidays due to lack of support.
* The Stormont Bill aims to re-instate holiday hunger payments, which were axed in March 2023 due to lack of funds.
* The Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill would provide £27 per child per fortnight to families during school holidays, at an estimated cost of around £20m a year.
* Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker introduced the bill after being motivated by experiences with breakfast clubs and meal schemes in youth work, including a young boy who was bringing home food for his siblings due to lack of food at home.
* A spokesperson for the Department of Education said they continue to support children through free school meals and will look at ways to tackle holiday hunger.
* Principal Aine Leslie backs the bill, saying it would provide "practical, dignified support" for families and ensure vulnerable children are not disadvantaged during holidays.
* Dungannon Primary principal David Thompson also expressed concerns about the state of the education budget and said that while the intention behind the proposal is understandable, new initiatives need to be balanced against immediate needs within schools.