Attwood pledges £127million to help fight fuel poverty
Social Development Minister Alex Attwood has announced £127million over the next four years to support new measures to fight fuel poverty and help vulnerable people who are struggling to heat their homes.
~ Monday, 14 March 2011
New and innovative measures including a pilot boiler replacement scheme that targets those in greatest need and energy brokering agreements are also part of ‘Warmer Healthier Homes - a new Fuel Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland’.
Thirteen hundred homes across Northern Ireland will get their boilers replaced in a £2million pilot scheme.
The Assembly is just passing new legislation to allow for energy brokering, which for the first time, will provide some control on the price of household fuel.
Minister Attwood said: “Now, more than ever, government needs to exhaust every possibility in an effort to help people in need.
“Following on from the example of the Citizens Energy Corporation, established in the United States by Joe Kennedy and which has delivered millions of gallons of discount home heating oil to poor and elderly households; new legislation is just being passed here with the potential to deliver reduced gas and electricity costs for thousands of Housing Executive and Housing Association tenants.”
Minister Attwood continued: “More than 44% of people in Northern Ireland live in fuel poverty, a figure more likely to rise than fall as time goes on. People cannot afford to heat their homes adequately. People need help. This is a serious situation and one which requires a combined effort to combat. The hardship fund proposed by me and directed to those in need can also help, though its budget should be increased in 11/12 and guaranteed for 12/15.”
Joe Kennedy, son of the late Senator Robert Kennedy, has lent his support to the strategy, saying: “Your work to provide energy assistance to low-income residents while increasing the energy efficiency of their boilers is both good social policy and morally the right thing to do. You should take pride in your efforts to shelter Northern Ireland’s most vulnerable families from the high cost of fuel and to make their homes part of the green solution for a more liveable planet.”
Notes to editors:
Capital funding of £15/15.5/16/16.5m has been allocated to the Warm Homes Scheme across the next four years which will be spent on private sector houses. In addition, the Housing Executive is planning to spend £16m in 2011/12 from its maintenance budget on fuel poverty measures for its own houses - heating adaptations, heating replacements and thermal comfort improvements - and this level of maintenance expenditure is expected to continue in the following three years.
The strategy is a result of detailed examination of the 2004 strategy, takes account of wider research and a period of public consultation.
The consultation ran from 26 June to 24 September. There were over 50 responses to the consultation from individuals and organisations.
The strategy outlines four key areas for action: Targeting Resources, Improving Energy Efficiency; Achieving Affordable Energy and Building Strong Partnerships.
The pilot boiler replacement scheme is open to those who are over 60 years old; with boilers 15 years old or more; and who receive a state pension.
The DSD’s Warm Homes Scheme, started in July 2009,has seen over 93,000 homes improved either through insulation or new heating systems.
PDF version
Social Development Minister Alex Attwood has announced £127million over the next four years to support new measures to fight fuel poverty and help vulnerable people who are struggling to heat their homes.
~ Monday, 14 March 2011
New and innovative measures including a pilot boiler replacement scheme that targets those in greatest need and energy brokering agreements are also part of ‘Warmer Healthier Homes - a new Fuel Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland’.
Thirteen hundred homes across Northern Ireland will get their boilers replaced in a £2million pilot scheme.
The Assembly is just passing new legislation to allow for energy brokering, which for the first time, will provide some control on the price of household fuel.
Minister Attwood said: “Now, more than ever, government needs to exhaust every possibility in an effort to help people in need.
“Following on from the example of the Citizens Energy Corporation, established in the United States by Joe Kennedy and which has delivered millions of gallons of discount home heating oil to poor and elderly households; new legislation is just being passed here with the potential to deliver reduced gas and electricity costs for thousands of Housing Executive and Housing Association tenants.”
Minister Attwood continued: “More than 44% of people in Northern Ireland live in fuel poverty, a figure more likely to rise than fall as time goes on. People cannot afford to heat their homes adequately. People need help. This is a serious situation and one which requires a combined effort to combat. The hardship fund proposed by me and directed to those in need can also help, though its budget should be increased in 11/12 and guaranteed for 12/15.”
Joe Kennedy, son of the late Senator Robert Kennedy, has lent his support to the strategy, saying: “Your work to provide energy assistance to low-income residents while increasing the energy efficiency of their boilers is both good social policy and morally the right thing to do. You should take pride in your efforts to shelter Northern Ireland’s most vulnerable families from the high cost of fuel and to make their homes part of the green solution for a more liveable planet.”
Notes to editors:
http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/media-centre/news-departments/ne...