Thousands of families in Northern Ireland will face an increase of nearly 20% in the cost of school dinners following new savings plans from the Education Authority (EA). The price for primary and special school students will rise by 50p, from £2.50 to £3.00. Additionally, post-primary students will experience an increase of 19% for food purchased at school cafeterias, with preschool meal prices also set to rise. Notably, these changes will not affect students eligible for free school meals; the new prices will take effect in January 2026.
Approximately 210,000 school meals are consumed daily in Northern Ireland, with around 90,000 students qualifying for free meals. The EA stated that the current meal price has remained unchanged since the 2017/18 academic year, despite an inflation rate of about 35% over that period. The average cost to produce each meal is reported to be £4.28. The EA is grappling with a funding shortfall of £300 million and does not anticipate receiving additional funding to bridge this gap.
In response to budgetary constraints, other measures are being implemented, including an increase in charges for music tuition provided by the EA Music Service, although specific figures have yet to be announced. Children entitled to free school meals who receive music lessons will still benefit from a 70% discount on fees. Registration numbers for the music service indicate that nearly 13,000 pupils were enrolled for the 2024/25 year, with a significant number eligible for free meals.
Additionally, the EA plans to reduce expenditures related to school transport, highlighting that the costs associated with taxis have significantly increased from just under £20 million in 2020/2021 to almost £40 million in 2024/2025. The authority aims to achieve up to £30 million in savings but has noted that deeper cuts may require legislative action. Recent reports from Stormont’s Public Accounts Committee have emphasized widespread disrepair in many schools, estimating a necessary £800 million for repairs.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c781v0w2q7do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss