O' Dowd welcomes free school meals extention

Sinn Féin MLA John O' Dowd has welcomed the decision by the Minister of Education to extend the free school meals scheme that will make approximately 20.000 extra children eligible for a free nutritional meal during school hours.

Mr O’ Dowd explained that the outcome of this decision will be that several thousand more children will now receive a nutritionally balanced meal during their lunch break. He further pointed out that this measure will help families who are already economically deprived by removing the cost and worry of having to provide packed lunches or pay for school meals.

He said, "The Minister has quite rightly targeted areas of social need in distributing her budget and the additional 3million will be a huge benefit to those families struggling to make ends meet. The parents eligible will be those on the lower income bracket of less than 16,000 per annum.

The Upper Bann Assembly Member concluded by saying, "With the extension of this scheme qualifying families will also be entitled to other benefits such as free school uniforms. The Minister has demonstrated through her budget that Sinn Fin is determined to end child poverty and ensure that each and every one of our children gets the best start in life including the proper nutritional requirement.”

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