30 January 2026
SDLP Ballyarnett Councillor Catherine McDaid has said the Executive must prioritise delivering free school meals for children across the North.
The call follows a council motion brought forward by Councillor McDaid this week.
Derry City and Strabane District Council will now write to the Education Minister, urging him to work with the Finance Minister on a plan to fund universal free school meals by 2030.
Councillor Catherine McDaid said:
“It is deeply frustrating that at a time when other parts of these islands are expanding free school meals provision, the North is going backwards. We have seen the removal of vital holiday hunger payments alongside a recent increase in the cost of school dinners, placing even more pressure on families during an already difficult cost-of-living crisis.
“We know the benefits of free school meals are clear. They improve children’s health, ensure access to nutritious food and are proven to support better educational outcomes. Teachers continue to tell us about children arriving at school hungry and the impact that has on their ability to learn, particularly in communities like ours where poverty remains unacceptably high.
“I welcome the council’s support for my motion. This is an issue that resonates across communities. No one is suggesting this happens overnight, but what we do need is ambition from the Executive and its Ministers to work together and put a clear plan in place. Universal free school meals would be a meaningful step towards giving every child a fair start in education.”