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Holiday hunger bill to face final Stormont hurdle
The Northern Ireland Assembly is due to take a final vote on a bill to provide holiday food payments to families whose children receive free school meals. Supporters say the payments would help ease food costs and child poverty during school breaks, when school meals are unavailable.
The bill was introduced by Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker and would cover families with annual household income below £15,390. Education Minister Paul Givan says it would cost his department £20m a year, which it cannot afford; Northern Ireland is currently the only UK region without government-funded holiday food support, after a £27-per-fortnight grant ended in 2023.
In short
- MLAs are set to vote on holiday food payments for eligible families.
- The scheme could cost the education budget £20m a year.
- Northern Ireland has had no government-funded holiday food support since 2023.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that children who rely on free school meals can face greater food insecurity during school holidays, when that support stops. Regular payments could help families meet food costs, reduce hardship and give children more consistent access to nutritious meals; the fact that other UK regions provide holiday support may suggest Northern Ireland has a gap to address.
The case against
Critics argue that a £20m annual commitment must be weighed against other demands on a constrained education budget, and that approving the bill without secure funding could leave the department unable to meet existing responsibilities. They may also question whether a universal scheme for eligible families is the best use of public money, or whether more targeted help could address holiday hardship at lower cost.