Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker has submitted legislation to the Assembly to tackle the issue of holiday hunger.

The party’s children and young people spokesperson said:

“Ensuring our children have a cooked meal, not just during the school term, but all-year-round, is a priority for me and my party.

“I am bringing forward legislation to tackle holiday hunger, to support families and to ensure our children get a cooked meal during the holidays.

“This would place a legal duty on the Department of Education and Education Authority to provide payments to parents in place of free school meals during the school holiday period.

“Previously, these payments were a lifeline for families that depend on free school meals and helped to ensure that our children got a hot meal during the school holidays; savage Tory cuts stripped these away.

“It’s time to cut costs for families and end holiday hunger.”