School meal prices in Northern Ireland increased on Jan. 1, 2026, for the first time since 2017, raising concerns that children living in poverty who do not qualify for free meals will be "acutely" affected.
The Education Authority raised primary and special school meal prices by 50p ($0.64) from £2.60 ($3.34) to £3.10 ($3.98), while post-primary students face a 19% increase. The hikes come as the Education Authority grapples with a £300 million ($385.5 million) funding shortfall and do not affect the approximately 90,000 pupils eligible for free school meals.
Price Increase for School Meals
Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, Chris Quinn, warned the increases will severely impact low-income families who fall outside free meal eligibility criteria. A recent study commissioned by his office revealed that 41% of children living in poverty miss out on free school meals under the current system, according to the BBC.
Quinn called for a "fundamental rethink" and advocated for universal free school meals for all children, noting that food inflation has soared 35% since prices were last adjusted in 2017.
The Education Authority serves approximately 210,000 meals daily across Northern Ireland schools. Each meal costs an average of £4.28 ($5.50) to produce, leaving a significant gap even after the price increases. The authority described the measures as "regrettable" but necessary to achieve up to £30 million ($38.55 million) in savings.
Parent Sue McDonnell, who has three children, said she now must calculate weekly what she can afford for school lunches. "There hasn't been a price hike in recent years; nobody would have noticed if it had been done gradually. This is a significant amount to raise at once," she said, Belfast Live reported.
Effect on Children Living in Poverty
School leaders expressed concern about the impact on learning. Hannah Kennedy, Head Girl at St Mary's College in Londonderry, noted some students will now choose between packed lunches, eating less, or not eating at all, making it "really difficult to concentrate in class if you haven't eaten all day."
Sean McNamee, principal of St Paul's Primary School in Belfast, said while 50p (£0.50) ($0.64) daily seems small, it totals £2.50 ($3.21) weekly per child, creating a substantial burden for families with several children.
Quinn emphasized that hunger affects education, health, and overall wellbeing, stating: "The reality is that far too many children are attending school hungry, and many are missing out on free school meals." He urged policymakers to overhaul eligibility criteria to focus on income levels rather than benefit receipt, ensuring all children in poverty receive support, as per NICCY.
