SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has welcomed confirmation from the Department of Education that will consider a universal free school meal for some or all year groups as a part of a review into the provision.
The move follows a proposal from Mr Durkan asking Education Minister Michelle McIlveen to consider implementing free school meals for all children from primary 1 through to primary 5, to provide pupils with the guarantee of one meal while at school as the cost of living crisis.
Currently, only households in receipt of certain income related benefits qualify for a free school meal entitlement.
Said the Foyle MLA: “A universal free school meal provision, especially during the current costs crisis, would provide a lifeline for so many struggling families.
“Sadly, food poverty is a growing reality within our communities.
“The latest figures from Trussell Trust revealed that almost 5,000 children in Derry City and Strabane District Council area alone rely on food banks.
“The fact that so many families here are at risk of going hungry is deeply distressing.
“I campaigned vociferously throughout the pandemic for a free school meal payment to ensure that children did not go hungry throughout the summer.
“This money was crucial for so many families and really was the difference between parents being able to feed their child or endure cutbacks elsewhere in their household budget.
“That need has grown more acute as the costs crisis deepens.
“As such I proposed that the Education Minister employ an initiative similar to the Scottish model, which has recently been expanded, to provide free school meals for all children in primary 1 to primary 5.
“I welcome the fact that steps are being taken to review this provision however, if we are going to deal with the long-term challenges around food poverty and the cost of living crisis then we need a functioning Assembly and Executive.
“Nobody should be forced to go hungry, pushed into Dickensian conditions without the support they desperately need.
“Minister McIlveen needs to liaise with her party colleagues in the DUP on the need to end their boycott of our institutions.”
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