'Holiday Hunger' payments to be discussed by Derry City and Strabane District Council

Derry City and Strabane District Council will not now hold an Emergency Meeting to discuss the reinstatement of the ‘Holiday Hunger’ scheme.

The issue will be discussed at Council's July 26 plenary.

The 'Holiday Hunger' scheme was introduced to give financial help of £27 a fortnight to the parents of children who receive free school meals, to off-set the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. 

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In March, the Department of Education announced funding for the ‘Holiday Hunger’ scheme would end in April.

Speaking to Derry Now, Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) said there were a lot of funding cuts taking place at the minute but people were most angry about the cut to ‘Holiday Hunger’ meal payments.

He added: “There are nearly 100,000 children not getting that food help through this summer. We have heard from other campaigners and the Focus Project in Creggan that this is hurting a lot of families across the North and in our city and district.

“So, we want to do anything we can to try and encourage the permanent secretary of the Department of Education to reverse this decision, to reinstate the payments for August and backdate them for July. This would be real help going to people who desperately need it.

“We cannot allow government departments to punish children because they are not making these decisions. We should be making sure that children are being supported,” said Cllr Harkin.

Cllr Harkin, along with the Independent councillors on Derry City and Strabane District Council, wrote to the other parties asking them to support an Emergency Meeting to discuss the reinstatement of ‘Holiday Hunger’ payments.

He added: “I am glad to report that the SDLP, UUP and Sinn Féin and the Mayor all supported the proposal.

“The only party we did not hear back from was the DUP and that was disappointing. However, the Emergency Meeting is not about the DUP. It is about trying to do something to help children and help families who are struggling to cover the cost of food.

“I am hopeful we will have the Emergency meeting this week and that we can help to make some noise to try and get the decision to abolish ‘Holiday Hunger’ payments reversed. And hopefully other councils are looking at doing the same thing.

"Child poverty and children going hungry in our communities is shameful and immoral when corporations are making record profits. We need action now. Councils, trade unions, community sector organisations and those with influence should do everything possible to back this demand.”

Cllr Emma McGinley (Sinn Féin) said the Assembly should be restored now to progress legislation to tackle holiday hunger. 

Cllr McGinley will table a motion at Full Council challenging "savage Tory cuts that has seen the holiday hunger payment stripped away this summer". 

She added: "The lack of an Executive and an onslaught of education cuts means that thousands of families are spending this summer without vital holiday hunger payments. 

“These payments are a lifeline for families that depend on free school meals and help ensure that children get a hot meal during the school holidays. 

“Many families across the city are already struggling with increasing mortgage costs, increasing food costs and rising utility bills, so stripping this payment away will only add to the hardship they are facing. 

“The DUP’s continued blockade of the Executive is heartless and irresponsible. We need the Assembly restored now and parties working together around the table to progress legislation to tackle holiday hunger, to support families and legislate to end the constant cliff-edge over these payments.

“I am bringing a motion calling on the council to write to the British Government challenging the savage cuts that seen this payment stripped away and calling for it to be reversed now.”