Politics · Other · 2 hrs ago
Northern Ireland Assembly to decide on holiday meal payments bill
The Northern Ireland Assembly is due to decide on a holiday food payments bill on Tuesday.
The bill, brought forward by Sinn Féin assembly member Danny Baker, would give payments to families whose children receive free school meals.
Those meals are available to children from families with annual household incomes below £15,390.
Northern Ireland is the only UK region without government-funded holiday food support, after a holiday meal grant ended in 2023.
Parents and charities say the payments would help families afford food when school is out.
Education Minister Paul Givan opposes the bill, warning it would cost his department £20m a year while public budgets are under pressure.
The vote is the bill’s final hurdle, but the sources do not say what the Assembly will decide.
The Northern Ireland Assembly is due to consider the Holiday Meal Payments Bill at its final stage on Tuesday.
The bill would create payments outside school term time for families whose children receive free school meals.
Supporters say the payments would help families afford food during school holidays.
Education Minister Paul Givan has criticised the bill, warning it would cost his department £20m a year.
The bill was introduced by Sinn Féin assembly member Danny Baker and has been scrutinised over the past nine months.
- Who
- Northern Ireland Assembly members are to consider the bill, introduced by Sinn Féin's Danny Baker.
- What
- The Assembly is due to consider the Holiday Meal Payments Bill at its final stage.
- When
- Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
- Where
- The Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont.
- Why
- The bill would help families whose children receive free school meals with food costs during school holidays.
Bill supporters
Paul Givan
Cost and funding
Bill supporters
Supporters say the payments would make a difference to families struggling with food costs.
Paul Givan
Givan has warned the scheme would cost his department £20m a year while departments are under financial pressure.
Role of government
Bill supporters
Campaigners say the executive should support families through the scheme.
Paul Givan
Givan has been consistently critical of the legislation.
The Department of Education ended its £27-per-fortnight holiday meal grant.
Baker's legislation was introduced in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Community and voluntary groups staged a demonstration at Stormont urging MLAs to pass the bill.
The bill is due to face its final hurdle in the Assembly.
- Proposed support
- Payments for families whose children receive free school meals, made outside term time
- Estimated annual cost
- £20m, according to Education Minister Paul Givan
- Free school meal income threshold
- Household income below £15,390 a year
- Previous holiday grant
- £27 per fortnight, ended in 2023
- Bill's sponsor
- Danny Baker of Sinn Féin
What people are saying
There are so many working families who need this, it will change their lives and be massively impactful
This will make such a difference to families we're seeing daily.
To cut a long story short, he was bringing home food for his siblings because there just wasn't enough food in the house.