AQW 16505/22-27

Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 09/10/2024
Answered On Date: 14/10/2024
Priority Written: Yes

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of schools that cannot currently provide hot meals due to catering staff shortages; (ii) the number of children impacted by this; and (iii) the number of children impacted by this that are entitled to free school meals.

Answer:

The Education Authority has advised that as of 11 October, there are two schools that cannot currently provide hot meals due to catering staff shortages. The EA estimates that across these two schools, an average of 350 children would normally take a school meal each day and 51 of these pupils are entitled to free school meals.