Please see the attached information from the Department of Education:
“We have taken action so that almost 97,000 children who are entitled to free school meals will benefit. I am very pleased to announce that we will introduce direct payments to families whose children would usually benefit from a school meal.
“My Department is leading on plans to ensure that low income families and vulnerable people get the vital support they need in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. We have been working closely with the Department of Education and the Education Authority to ensure children who would have access to free school meals every day continue to get support.
“Families will receive £2.70 per child per day for each day of term the schools are closed. This money will be paid to families on a fortnightly basis.”
The direct payments scheme will ensure families eligible for free school meals will receive direct payments into bank accounts during the period of term time school closures.
