Ritchie reaffirms commitment to eradicating Fuel Poverty

Fuel poverty is a blight on our society and contributes to a number of deaths from cold related illness in Northern Ireland every year, Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said today.

Chairing the first meeting of the Inter Departmental Working Group on Fuel Poverty since she took up office, the Minister said: “It is a poor reflection on society in the 21st century that there are still many households in Northern Ireland suffering fuel poverty. This is caused by a combination of low income, poor home energy efficiency and high fuel costs.

“We are already doing much to tackle this issue, but to provide a focus for further action, I have reconvened this working group, which is made up of senior officials from the main Departments that have a role in addressing poverty and income, the energy market, energy efficiency and health.

“My Department will spend over £20 million this year through the Warm Homes Scheme which was set up in 2001 to assist people to install better insulation and more efficient heating systems. The number of households benefiting has grown from 4,250 in 2001 to 10,000 in the current financial year.”

She added: “We are fortunate in Northern Ireland that we have a strong fuel poverty strategy, which is supported by a series of programmes to protect vulnerable groups such as older people. The strategy is also an important element of the Government’s actions to tackle poverty.

“Those people who live in public sector homes are also supported by the Housing Executive’s maintenance and improvements programmes which include measures to address fuel poverty. Also, under the Environment and Renewable Energy Fund, approximately 1,200 fuel poor homes in both the private and social sector will benefit from a 100% funded solar panel installation, leading to reduced fuel bills and making a significant contribution to the goal of creating affordable warmth. In addition, the Social Security Agency pays out approximately £54 million each year in cold weather and winter fuel payments.

“While this is a good record of achievement, it is clear that fuel poverty will not be eradicated by housing actions alone but by Government working in partnership with the public, private and community sectors.”

Notes to Editors:

Fuel poverty is the situation in which a household would have to spend more than 10% of its income on fuel to maintain an acceptable level of temperature throughout the home.

Fuel poverty is caused by a combination of factors including the need for heat, low household income, high fuel costs or the use of expensive fuel types and poor energy efficiency.

In Northern Ireland 33% of all households are fuel poor, compared with only 9% in England and 17% in Scotland.

The Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Strategy - Ending fuel Poverty: A Strategy for Northern Ireland - sets out the Governments targets for eradicating fuel poverty in Northern Ireland. The Strategy recommended the establishment of an Inter Departmental Group of senior officials to take forward the implementation of the strategy.

Copies of Ending fuel Poverty: A Strategy for Northern Ireland and Tackling Fuel Poverty: The Inter Departmental Group Report are available from DSD Housing Division, tel: 028 9081 9511 or website

Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9496. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.