Northern Ireland school meal prices to rise for second time in year

Summarised from 4 outlets · 7 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 11:28 · Archive

School meal prices in Northern Ireland are to rise by up to 30p from January 2027, the second increase in a year.

School meal prices in Northern Ireland will rise from January 2027, the Education Authority has announced. Primary and special school meals will increase by 30p to £3.40 per meal, nursery and pre-school meals to £3.30, and post-primary school cafeteria prices will rise by 15 per cent. This marks the second price rise in a year, following an increase of almost a fifth last year to the current price of £3.10 per meal. Before that, prices had not changed since 2017–18.

The EA said it faces an 'exceptionally challenging financial position' with a projected shortfall exceeding £100m, requiring it to deliver services with 'insufficient funding'. The new meal charges remain below the current average cost of producing a school meal, which the EA says is £5.28. To help limit the primary school price increase, the authority will replace traditional baked desserts with nutrient-rich dairy and fruit-based options.

Other cost-cutting measures include ending free transport for music students attending group activities and moving to parental payments for taxi provisions rather than commissioning the service. Free school meal provision will not be affected.

Northern Ireland's Commissioner for Children and Young People, Chris Quinn, warned that 'school meals are not a luxury', stating that children 'did not create the financial crisis in education and they should not be expected to pay the price for it'. The Education Authority said the announced cuts were a result of 'difficult decisions which sought to balance our commitment to children and young people alongside the requirement to live within the funding allocated for the year'. Stormont Executive parties have not agreed a budget seven months into the current financial year.

How it is being reported

• School meal prices to rise by 30p as Education Authority announces £20m cost savingsThe cost of a school meal is set to rise by 30 pence in primary and special schools and by 15% in secondary schools across the north, the Education Authority has announced as it confirmed a £20m raft of cuts and measures due to an ‘exceptionally challenging financial position’.Derry Journal · 11 Nov, 11:17
• ‘This is not something I support’: Education Minister Paul Givan blames budget cuts for school dinners’ price hikeMinister ‘disappointed’ after EA raises cost againBelfast Telegraph · 10 Nov, 14:09
• School meals 'not a luxury', watchdog warns, as prices set to increase"Children did not create the financial crisis in education and they should not be expected to pay the price for it."Belfast Live · 10 Nov, 11:24
• School meals ‘not a luxury’, watchdog warns, as prices set to increaseNorthern Ireland’s children’s watchdog has warned that “school meals are not a luxury” as prices are set to rise across the region.News Letter · 10 Nov, 11:15
• School meals ‘not a luxury’, watchdog warns, as prices set to increaseBelfast Telegraph · 10 Nov, 11:06
• Northern Ireland school meal prices to rise and 5 other cost-saving measures announcedIt is the second school meal price rise in a yearBelfast Live · 10 Nov, 09:54
• Cost of school meals to rise again as Education Authority announces further cost-cutting measuresEA dealing with ‘exceptionally challenging financial position’Belfast Telegraph · 9 Nov, 17:35

In this story: Education Authority · Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People · Chris Quinn · Northern Ireland

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