AQW 28411/22-27 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education to detail whether his Department has undertaken an equality or poverty impact assessment on the current eligibility thresholds for free school meals, in light of recent statistics showing a rise in both relative and absolute child poverty.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 9 June 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 9 June 2025
- Answer due by
- 24 June 2025
- Answered
- 17 June 20258 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
As part of my Department’s review of the free school meals and uniform grant eligibility criteria, an equality screening, rural needs impact assessment and a child’s rights impact assessment were completed. These documents are available on my Department’s website at https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/consultations/review-free-school-meals-and-uniform-grant-eligibility-criteria.