10 November 2026

The SDLP has backed the Holiday Hunger Bill, which would ensure children entitled to Free School Meals continue to receive support when schools are closed during holiday periods.

SDLP Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA said:

"We all know public finances are under pressure. But balancing the books on the backs of hungry children is not an option.

"More than 90,000 children here are entitled to Free School Meals. That's one in four pupils. This isn't a marginal issue. It's a reality in every city, town and village across Northern Ireland.

"For many children, a school meal is more than part of the school day. It's a lifeline. School holidays should never mean families are left struggling to replace that support on their own.

"A child can't learn on an empty stomach. Hunger shows up in classrooms long before it shows up in statistics. Teachers see it every day through concentration, behaviour and educational attainment.

"No child should go hungry during the school holidays. If the Assembly is serious about that principle, the Executive must be serious about funding it. Words alone won't put food on a family's table. It would be unforgivable to raise hopes among families, only to see them dashed through a failure to provide the resources needed to make this support a reality.

"For the SDLP, social justice means standing up for children and families when they need support most. Making sure a child has enough to eat is not a luxury. It's the bare minimum any decent society should provide."