Rally for universal free school meals to take place in Derry
A rally calling for universal free school meals is due to take place in Derry on Wednesday.
Derry Trades Union Council is holding a 4pm rally in Guildhall Square to celebrate International School Meals Day and demand ‘children get the same access to school meals as those in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic’.
DTUC pointed out that ’every other part of these islands provides free school meals for all children at least to P3 or P4’.
Damien Doherty, DTUC Chair, said: “Too many households can't access free school meals for their children because the eligibility criteria threshold is far too low. This results in more than 4 out of every 10 children living in poverty not being able to access free school meals.
"No child should be hungry at school. School meals and the school day should not be a burden for families and our children.
"Take a stand for our kids, our schools, and all the hard-pressed families struggling with cost-of-living living pressures."