Assembly backs UUP Fuel Poverty Motion
The Northern Ireland Assembly has backed a UUP motion calling on the Social Development Minister to review the fuel poverty strategy – with a special emphasis on pensioner households and households with children.
Following the Assembly debate on the motion, Ulster Unionist Fermanagh & South Tyrone assembly member, Tom Elliott, has said: “Fuel poverty continues to blight far too many homes across Northern Ireland. As a society, we all lose out because of fuel poverty – not least because of the costs associated with the poorer health brought on by fuel poverty.
“With 20% of pensioners living in fuel poverty, DSD’s strategy must be reviewed to ensure that strategy’s goal of eradicating fuel poverty by 2016 does not become yet another missed target.”
He went on to praise the work of fuel poverty advocacy group National Energy Action, and called for a more robust approach by DSD.
“Both in Scotland and England, innovative schemes are in place that must be examined DSD as possible options for Northern Ireland. We cannot be complacent about the 2016 target for eradication of fuel poverty and were lessons are to be learnt from other UK regions, they should be learnt,” he said.
The UUP MLA added: “It is estimated that 25,000 children in Northern Ireland lives in homes that are not adequately heated. In a fair and just society, the lives of children should not be blighted by cold and damp homes. A review of DSD’s strategy must ensure that families with children are lifted out of fuel poverty.”