Pat Sheehan – 2022 Comments on Securing Holiday Hunger Payments

The comments made by Pat Sheehan, the Sinn Fein West Belfast MLA, on 7 October 2022.

The Halloween break is fast approaching and without an Executive, thousands of families face uncertainty over whether they will receive payments in place of free school meals.

People are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and these payments are a lifeline to many children and their families, and it is cruel and unacceptable that the DUP would cause such uncertainty.

The Finance Minister set aside funding to tackle holiday hunger for over 100,000 children and young people over the next three years, but this cannot be signed off without an Executive.

The easiest way of getting that money out the door is forming an Executive today. And I would urge the DUP to end its boycott and work with the rest of us to support hard-pressed workers and families now.