Rising school meal prices in Northern Ireland will have an “acute” impact on children from low-income families who do not qualify for free school meals, the region’s children’s commissioner has warned, as increases take effect for the first time in nearly a decade.
Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People said the changes risk leaving more pupils going hungry during the school day and called for a fundamental rethink of how meals are funded.
Prices Rise for First Time Since 2017
From January, the cost of a school dinner has increased across most settings. Primary and special school meals have risen by 50p from £2.60 to £3.10, while pre-school meals now cost £3.00. Post-primary pupils face an average price rise of just over 19% for food purchased in school canteens.
Adult meals have also increased to £3.99. Pupils eligible for free school meals are not affected, but thousands of children living in poverty fall outside the eligibility criteria.
Funding Crisis Behind the Increase
The price rises form part of savings plans introduced by the Education Authority, which says it is facing a £300m funding shortfall.
The authority has warned that, unlike in previous years, it does not expect additional in-year funding to cover the gap. Officials say inflation has risen by around 35% since 2017, while the cost of producing a single school meal now averages £4.28.
Around 210,000 school meals are served every day in Northern Ireland, with approximately 90,000 pupils entitled to free school meals.
Commissioner Calls for Universal Free Meals
Children’s commissioner Chris Quinn said the increase would hit working families hardest, particularly those with several children in school.
He said food inflation and the wider cost-of-living crisis meant many households were already struggling, adding that the current system leaves too many children falling through the cracks.
Quinn said a move towards universal free school meals should be considered, warning that hunger can have serious consequences for children’s education, physical health and mental wellbeing.
Parents Describe Growing Pressure
Parents have voiced concerns about the immediate impact on household budgets. Some say they are being forced to reassess how often their children can afford a hot meal at school.
Working parents, including those who are self-employed, said the changes underline how families who earn just above the free meal threshold are increasingly squeezed by rising costs.
Several questioned why the increase was introduced in one step rather than phased in gradually over several years.
Wider Cost-of-Living Impact on Schools
The school meal increases come amid broader financial pressures across Northern Ireland’s education system. In recent months, schools have been asked to limit staff recruitment and reduce spending on substitute teachers as budgets tighten.
Trade unions and parent groups have staged protests against the savings plans, warning that cuts and rising costs risk undermining pupil welfare.
Education leaders say difficult decisions are unavoidable without additional funding from Stormont, while campaigners argue that protecting children from hunger should be a political priority.
