| Ref No | Member | Question | Tabled | Status |
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AQW 43960/22-27
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Ms Diane Forsythe
(DUP - South Down)
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To ask the Minister of Education to detail the current number of children deemed entitled to Free School Meals in each Assembly constituency.
+ Display Answer
| 15/04/2026 |
Answered on 17/04/2026
|
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AQW 43307/22-27
|
Ms Claire Sugden
(IND - East Londonderry)
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To ask the Minister of Education to detail any action his Department is taking to improve school attendance among pupils entitled to free school meals prior to Key Stage 5.
+ Display Answer
| 26/03/2026 |
Answered on 17/04/2026
|
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AQW 43124/22-27
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Mr Pat Sheehan
(SF - West Belfast)
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To ask the Minister of Education to detail the proportion of eligible pupils who receive free school meals.
+ Display Answer
| 24/03/2026 |
Answered on 09/04/2026
|
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AQO 3264/22-27
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Mr Peter McReynolds
(APNI - East Belfast)
|
To ask the Minister for Communities to outline any engagement he has had with the Minister of Education in relation to the introduction of free school meals for families in receipt of Universal Credit.
+ Display Answer
| 26/02/2026 |
Answered on 10/03/2026
|
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AQW 40448/22-27
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Ms Cara Hunter
(SDLP - East Londonderry)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) any Northern Ireland-specific modelling, or analysis, that has been undertaken to assess the likely impact of a knowledge-rich curriculum on pupils entitled to free school meals, and lower-attaining learners; (ii) whether any pilot studies have been conducted within Northern Ireland schools; and (iii) how any success will be measured in terms of closing the attainment gap.
+ Display Answer
| 12/02/2026 |
Answered on 04/03/2026
|
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AQW 39879/22-27
|
Ms Cara Hunter
(SDLP - East Londonderry)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) his assessment of whether the current budget for free school meals is sufficient to ensure that all pupils receiving them are provided with meals that meet recommended nutritional standards; (ii) any assessment that has been made of the quality and nutritional content of meals currently served under the scheme; and (iii) any steps in place to address any shortfalls to ensure pupils receive adequately nutritious meals.
+ Display Answer
| 05/02/2026 |
Answered on 13/02/2026
|
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AQW 36914/22-27
|
Ms Cara Hunter
(SDLP - East Londonderry)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of students who have been (a) suspended; or (b) expelled; and (ii) the number of students who have been (a) suspended; or (b) expelled, who are in receipt of Free School Meals, in each of the last ten years, broken down by school type.
+ Display Answer
| 05/12/2025 |
Answered on 15/12/2025
|
|
AQW 36214/22-27
|
Ms Cara Hunter
(SDLP - East Londonderry)
|
To ask the Minister of Education whether, before concluding that significant capital expenditure would be required for universal Free School Meals, his Department assessed options such as staggered lunch sittings, which allow full cohorts to be served without additional dining hall construction, as is common in other jurisdictions.
+ Display Answer
| 25/11/2025 |
Answered on 05/12/2025
|
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AQW 36100/22-27
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Mr Jon Burrows
(UUP - North Antrim)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the average length of time between applying for free school meals and being placed on the register in the last 12 months; and (ii) why parents are not refunded the cost of meals incurred during the intervening period when their application for free school meals is subsequently approved.
+ Display Answer
| 21/11/2025 |
Answered on 02/12/2025
|
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AQW 35226/22-27
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Mr Daniel McCrossan
(SDLP - West Tyrone)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any additional estimated (i) cost; and (ii) capacity, implications for introducing Free School Meals to all children.
+ Display Answer
| 11/11/2025 |
Answered on 21/11/2025
|
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AQW 35129/22-27
|
Mrs Michelle Guy
(APNI - Lagan Valley)
|
To ask the Minister of Education for his assessment of any impact that price increases to school meals will have on children who are just outside the threshold for free school meals.
+ Display Answer
| 10/11/2025 |
Answered on 21/11/2025
|
|
AQW 35007/22-27
|
Mr Mark Durkan
(SDLP - Foyle)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any engagement his Department is undertaking with (i) schools; (ii) parents; and (iii) community organisations, to encourage greater uptake of Free School Meals and the Uniform Grant for eligible families.
+ Display Answer
| 07/11/2025 |
Answered on 17/11/2025
|
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AQW 35004/22-27
|
Mr Mark Durkan
(SDLP - Foyle)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the estimated number of children who are eligible for (i) Free School Meals; and (ii) the Uniform Grant, but are not currently claiming them, in each of the last three years.
+ Display Answer
| 07/11/2025 |
Answered on 18/11/2025
|
|
AQW 34988/22-27
|
Ms Cara Hunter
(SDLP - East Londonderry)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any assessment that has been made of the impact that increasing the price of school meals from January 2026 will have on (i) children’s health; (ii) nutrition; and (iii) learning outcomes, particularly for struggling families who do not qualify for Free School Meals.
+ Display Answer
| 07/11/2025 |
Answered on 21/11/2025
|
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AQW 34865/22-27
|
Ms Diane Forsythe
(DUP - South Down)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the cost to the Education Authority of providing free school meals to children, in each of the last three years.
+ Display Answer
| 06/11/2025 |
Answered on 18/11/2025
|
|
AQW 33256/22-27
|
Mr Danny Baker
(SF - West Belfast)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of pupils who are no longer eligible for free school meals, as a result of the move to Universal Credit.
+ Display Answer
| 10/10/2025 |
Answered on 22/10/2025
|
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AQW 33145/22-27
|
Mr Jon Burrows
(UUP - North Antrim)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any provisions put in place on Friday 3 October 2025, when some schools closed early, to ensure that pupils who usually access free school meals were still able to access their meals.
+ Display Answer
| 08/10/2025 |
Answered on 16/10/2025
|
|
AQW 31448/22-27
|
Mr Mark Durkan
(SDLP - Foyle)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of applications for (i) free school meals; and (ii) the school uniform grant, which have been (a) delayed; and (b) deemed unsuccessful due to families being homeless and residing in emergency accommodation, in each of the last three years, broken down by local council area.
+ Display Answer
| 17/09/2025 |
Answered on 01/10/2025
|
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AQW 31446/22-27
|
Mr Mark Durkan
(SDLP - Foyle)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps being taken, in conjunction with the Minister of Education, to ensure that homeless families without a permanent address can still access free school meals and the uniform grant.
+ Display Answer
| 17/09/2025 |
Answered on 01/10/2025
|
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AQW 31445/22-27
|
Mr Mark Durkan
(SDLP - Foyle)
|
To ask the Minister of Education to detail any steps being taken, in conjunction with the Minister for Communities, to ensure that homeless families without a permanent address can still access free school meals and the uniform grant.
+ Display Answer
| 17/09/2025 |
Answered on 01/10/2025
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