Margaret Ritchie outlines plans to tackle fuel poverty

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA today outlined her strategy for ending fuel poverty, to the Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Advisory Group.

The Group, which is independent of Government and comprises representatives from the private and voluntary and community sectors, provides a forum where issues related to fuel poverty can be discussed. The Group also advises Government on such issues and monitors progress under the Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Meeting the Group for the first time, the Minister restated her aim of eradicating fuel poverty by 2010: “Fuel poverty impacts on so many issues essential for life and wellbeing. It can affect housing, health, the environment, even children’s educational attainment. It leads to cold, damp homes and at times forces people to have to choose between heating their homes or putting food on their table. This should not be happening and I am determined that it will end.

“While my Department is responsible for Northern Ireland’s Fuel Poverty Strategy, it will require concerted action by government departments, the relevant public sector organisations, the voluntary and community sector, energy suppliers and the energy industry.”

Pointing out the work that is already underway, the Minister said: “There is significant support already available from my Department and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. This year we will spend over £20 million on the Warm Homes Scheme which provides central heating or other insulation measures for eligible applicants. I am glad to say that the number of households which have benefited under the scheme has more than doubled, from 4,200 in 2001 to 10,000 homes this year.

“The Housing Executive tackles fuel poverty through its maintenance and improvements programme and the private sector grants scheme. These programmes attract funding of over £100 million and all include measures to address fuel poverty. Through its Benefit Uptake Programme, the Social Security Agency has also targeted many older people, carers and those with a disability to ensure that they receive the benefits they are entitled to.

"The Strategy sets challenging targets and I do not underestimate what will be required to achieve our goal, but we owe it to the people who daily are having to cope with the effects of fuel poverty, to do all we can to bring it to an end.

"In stressing to the Advisory Group, the importance of Government working together in partnership with other agencies and voluntary groups, I asked them to undertake some research into the whole area of the working poor and those in receipt of low incomes, and what measures are required to mitigate the impact of fuel poverty.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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