MEA councillors hear “holiday hunger remains a major issue” for school children

“Holiday hunger remains a major issue” in Mid and East Antrim Borough, councillors have been told ahead of a meeting of the local authority’s Direct Services Committee on Tuesday evening.

Elected representatives are being asked to support a recommendation to write to Education MInister MIchelle McIlveen seeking an extension to the School Holiday Food Grant Scheme until Easter 2023.

The scheme is due to run until Easter 2022.

A report to the Mid and East Antrim councillors says that addressing “holiday hunger” is “a priority” for the local authority.

In November 2020, then Education Minister Peter Weir announced that the £40m School Holiday Food Grant Scheme would run until Easter 2022 which the council has described as “a lifeline” for local families.

Mr Weir said at the time that it was good news for those families who have been struggling financially during the pandemic.

The scheme was introduced for children who normally receive a free school meal to enable them to have access to a nutritious meal without placing their family under further financial hardship during school holidays.

More than 100,000 children in Northern Ireland are currently entitled to a free school meal.

The Direct Services Committee was told previously that during the first lockdown in 2020, a community hub was established for distribution of 4,000 food parcels to 532 referrals in response to the Covid pandemic in Mid and East Antrim.

Meanwhile, Free School Meals for all children may be back on the table after the Department for Education confirmed a review is under way on this and Uniform Grant eligibility.

But while this was widely welcomed, it will be at least a year before there will be any decision either way.

BBC Local Democracy contacted the Department of Education asking if the Minister for Education supports Free School Meals for all children, and if so, can this be met within the current budget, and if not, will a funding bid be made to the Minister for Finance?

In response, a spokesperson replied: “The Department has commenced its Review of Free School Meals and Uniform Grant eligibility criteria.

“The review will consider a number of options, including universal Free School Meal provision for certain year groups or all pupils, and is expected to conclude by early 2023.

“Decisions in relation to the way forward and any potential bids will be taken at this stage.”