People Before Profit calls for universal free school dinners for all children across Northern Ireland

It comes following revelations that over 102,000 children in the North received so-called "holiday hunger" payments during the school summer holidays this year.

Mr Carroll said the figure “pales in comparison” to the number of children who will go hungry this winter.

“Conservative estimates suggest that one in four children in the North already live in poverty and things are set to get worse due to the cost-of-living crisis,” he said. “Some schools are already offering free meals to all pupils but are forced to absorb costs that should really be covered by the state.

“The Welsh government plans to offer free school meals for all pupils and Stormont should follow suit. With no attempt to seriously alleviate poverty for over a decade, this would go some way to stopping the daily hardship children are facing.”

Mr Carroll said universal free school meals should feature in the Department of Education’s review of eligibility criteria for free school meals.

“The Education Minister and her Department need to urgently plan for the implementation of universal school meals to offer relief to parents who are struggling to put food on the table,” he added.

A plan to continue the payments during school holidays until 2025 has not yet been agreed due to the collapse of the Stormont Executive.

The summer 2022 payments were in doubt due to the lack of an Executive. But in June, Education Minister Michelle McIlveen said her department would spend £12.6m to support families in July and August.