Debate contribution: Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill: Consideration Stage

Debate contribution by Mr David Brooks on 21 September 2026.

MLA: Mr David Brooks
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 21 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill: Consideration Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5742982

Text

I will take the opportunity to respond to some of the things that have been said. The issues that he mentioned previously have direct relevance to children in schools. This is a holiday hunger payment, essentially. The issues in the evidence that he is talking about are addressed, and can be addressed, through a welfare payment. They are to do with welfare. Welfare is there to support families who do not have enough money and resource to meet their need, regardless of whether they are working. That is what welfare is there for: it is a safety net. All of the evidence that he talks about would be relevant to those families if they did not have welfare. What we are talking about in relation to this payment is whether parties around the Chamber feel that welfare is of a sufficient level to meet need. That is why, when we talk to charities like Barnardo's or the Trussell Trust, they come forward with a number of —.
Just a moment, Pat. I want to make some progress. Those charities will talk about numerous interventions, which, largely, are repackaged versions of an uplift in various welfare payments to facilitate families to have enough to get their daily essentials, such as food. That is what you are trying to achieve, Danny. I do not doubt that you are genuine in what you are trying to achieve. My disagreement with you is around what the mechanism should be.
I thank the Member. That goes directly to the point that Mr O'Toole made. Without having the finance in place, we would be giving false hope to parents that the resource is there to meet the needs. From what Mr Baker, the proposer of the legislation, is saying, I gather that, basically, he wants us to set aside numerous significant educational interventions that the Minister has brought forward. Those interventions are directly relevant to the Department.
That is fair enough, Mr Deputy Speaker. I appreciate that. It was a natural instinct to talk over my shoulder to my colleague who had intervened. Apologies for that. Our position is on the record. It was important that we outlined the position that we are taking. The Bill sponsor's colleague asked for that clarity, and I have sought to give it. As the Chair said, these are largely technical amendments, and on that basis, we do not seek to divide the House on them. We have, however, at least outlined our position on the Bill in general, and we will look at any amendments that are tabled at later stages on their own merits.

436 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Awaiting analysis

This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification