To ask the Minister of Education what plans he has to reintroduce withdrawn programmes for primary school pupils and their families, such as holiday hunger payments and in-school counselling services.

Following a decision by the Executive, the Department of Education, made, on an interim basis, School Holiday Food Grant payments from July 2020 to March 2023. The ringfenced funding for this ceased in 2023 and the payments were therefore discontinued. I will be considering the way forward on this issue in the time ahead.

The Healthy Happy Minds Pilot concluded on 31 March 2023. An evaluation of the pilot has been carried out and I will assess its findings as I seek to better support the emotional health and wellbeing of learners. The Independent Counselling Service for Schools (ICSS) remains available to post-primary age pupils.