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

Debate contribution by Mrs Michelle Guy on 12 October 2026.

MLA: Mrs Michelle Guy
Party at the time: Alliance Party
Date: 12 October 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Education (Holiday Meal Payments) Bill: Further Consideration Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5786446

Text

I begin by reiterating my support for the Bill. I want it to succeed and to be capable of delivering support to eligible children as quickly as possible. It is through that lens that we have evaluated the amendments at Further Consideration Stage. The Minister wrote to the Education Committee on 6 October about amendment No 1. In that letter, he noted that the First Legislative Counsel took forward amendment No 1 to ensure that it would be:
"drafted in the most legislatively appropriate manner without changing the policy intent of the Bill."
He further noted:
"I want to be clear that these amendments are not intended to change the policy agreed at Consideration Stage or the end outcome for pupils".
Having read amendment No 1, I see no issue with supporting it, especially if it will ensure clarity on the statute book and provide stronger legislation. The amendment drafted by the First Legislative Counsel makes it clear that the EA:
"must ... make financial payments ... to parents or guardians of qualifying pupils".
New article 58A(9) clarifies the language around the daily amount that will be paid to families by the EA, and proposed new article 58A(5) is clear on the qualifying holiday times. Therefore, there is nothing that stands out as a concern for me, but I am open to hearing about specific concerns from those who intend to vote against amendment No 1.
I understand the reluctance of some to vote for it, which is born out of a lack of trust in the Minister. It is regrettable that the amendment came forward so late, meaning that there was little time for engagement. That was in the Minister's gift, however.
As was noted by the Speaker, if we proceed with amendment No 1, amendment Nos 2, 3 and 4 will not be called. We will support amendment No 5, which provides the ability to change the list of holiday periods in clause 1 through regulations. That is a straightforward amendment that allows for flexibility in case school holidays change. Likewise, we will support amendment Nos 9 and 10, as they flow from amendment No 1, which we will be supporting. We will not support the other amendments, however. I highlight in particular amendment No 6, which gives the Minister the power to decide when holiday meal payments will begin or whether they should be made at all. We know that he does not support the intention behind the Bill, and, with those powers, he would in all likelihood not go ahead with payments for entitled families. We know from the evidence gathered throughout Committee Stage from organisations working at the coalface that the payments would make a real difference. Organisations such as Children in Northern Ireland and Advice NI made it clear that making payments in that way would be effective. We are an outlier across these islands in providing no support to the families of children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds during holiday periods. Reinstating a scheme that was previously administered by the Education Authority is viewed as a tested and scalable method of delivery. We do not support amendment No 8, which would provide sweeping powers to the Department to make regulations "of any kind". Given that limited scrutiny of the amendments has been possible, I am not clear why powers of such breadth are required. If the Bill completes its legislative passage, it will create an expectation among eligible families for financial relief in lieu of school meals during school holidays. Furnishing a Minister who is not supportive of the legislation with broad powers to alter it feels like too great a risk to endorse in haste. I will return briefly to amendment No 6. The Minister raised his concerns about budget, and we are not naive about those concerns. As my colleagues and others noted, however, the Department of Education's budget is the second largest in the Executive, and it is for the Minister of Education, like all Ministers, to prioritise resources. That having been said, I would expect the Finance Minister to be receptive to any bid from the Education Minister to deliver that support to families. I reiterate our support for amendment Nos 1, 5, 9 and 10. I am comfortable that they improve the Bill, and I look forward to its progressing to Final Stage.

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

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