15,000 entitled to free meals

She advised: “There were 14,913 pupils enrolled in voluntary and private preschool centres, nursery schools, primary, post primary and special schools located in the Western Education and Library Board area, entitled to free school meals in the 2010/11 academic year.”

She added: “This equates to 25.9 per cent of pupils attending schools and voluntary or private preschool centres in the Western Education and Library Board area.

“For all schools and funded places in voluntary and private preschool centres in the North, 20 per cent of pupils were entitled to free school meals.”

She outlined the details in response to a query from West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff who asked how many pupils qualify for free school meals in the area.

“Last April I announced that the free school meals eligibility criteria would be extended on a phased basis to include full-time nursery and primary school children whose parents are in receipt of working tax credit and have an annual income which does not exceed £16,190 in 2010-11. When the change is implemented in full around 10,000 additional children across the North will be eligible for free school meals,” the Minister stated.