5570 (2025). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

5570 (2025). Ricardo Menéndez March to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Why did she justify ceasing funding for foodbanks by saying “If we’re serious, which we are, about dealing with the cost-of-living crisis we have to pull government spending back and one of the opportunities is to end the things that were created just for Covid”?

Hon Louise Upston: Time limited funding put in place by the last government has been extended through to the middle of this year. The Government’s ongoing focus will be on funding community food distribution infrastructure and longer-term approaches to food security.