Debate contribution: Holiday Hunger
Debate contribution by Mrs Cathy Mason on .
- MLA
- Mrs Cathy Mason
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 19 March 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Holiday Hunger
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4279631
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Families are already struggling with the rising costs of uniforms and childcare, never mind the rising costs of everyday bills and utilities. Food poverty can affect all of us at some point. I have seen that all too often with families in my constituency of South Down. The loss of a job, a reduction in earnings or a cut in hours can lead to significant financial challenges for parents and families. As the purse strings tighten, those who suffer are the most vulnerable in society, but, no matter what, every child should have access to a good meal. We are lucky to have the Patrician Youth Centre in Downpatrick, which provides a safety net for families so that their children have access to a good meal. Its work does not go unnoticed, but so much more needs to be done. A high-quality and affordable childcare system is one way that we can address the systemic issues of child poverty and holiday hunger. That will put money back into the pockets of working families and improve the outcomes of vulnerable children. The cut to the school holiday food grant scheme has had a devastating impact on disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people and should never have occurred. We should be removing barriers for families and young people by ensuring that there is a statutory obligation to ensure that children do not go without a good quality meal. Child poverty, through food hunger, can lead to educational underachievement, learning loss and poor physical and mental health. At a time when children and young people should be focusing on their futures, they are forced to focus on where and when they might get their next meal. That is unacceptable, and I urge the Minister to put a plan in place to tackle holiday hunger. We must give children a level playing field and help the most vulnerable through challenging circumstances.
318 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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