McGrath Welcomes Fuel Poverty Report

‘Defining Fuel Poverty in Northern Ireland: A Preliminary Review‘ by the University of Ulster. Commenting the SDLP’s Down Council Health Spokesperson said, “It is a positive move forward that we can now define what fuel poverty is but it is essential that we now see action to tackle the problem. “Under this definition I understand that 75,000 homes in Northern Ireland are now in the category of fuel poverty  ie. being unable to sustain an appropriate temperature in their home. [caption id="attachment_27968" align="alignleft" width="267" caption="Down District Councillor Colin McGrath has welcomed the Fuel Poverty Definition Report as a key step in the strategy to alleviate fuel poverty."][/caption] “Given the very cold winter that we had last year and the expectation of a similarly cold winter ahead we must now see action from the Executive on how to deal with this matter. We must see additional payments being made to those in danger and also better initiatives to help lower the price such as block buying by distributors. This is an important matter as the impact is felt across government with other departments effected such as the Health when those impacted need hospitalisation. This definition is an important first step but now we must see the credible follow up work taking place by our Ministers”. Minister for Social Development Nelson McCausland MLA has also welcomed the publication of a report by the University of Ulster entitled and said, “In my department’s fuel poverty strategy ‘Warmer Healthier Homes’ published in April, we gave a commitment to carrying out an evaluation of the current definition of fuel poverty. This report was essential to helping my department target our resources at those most in need.” The Review has concluded that applying a revised calculation based on total energy costs, a core of 13% of householders in Northern Ireland are in fuel poverty. The Minister added, “This 13%, around 75,000 households, are in severe fuel poverty by national standards. For this group, fuel poverty is likely to lead to a public health concern, since many of these people may be living in homes that are below minimum standards. In order to prioritise those most in need, these households must become the primary focus of Northern Ireland’s Fuel Poverty Strategy. “While the report is hugely beneficial in helping my department target resources at a core group of householders, it in no way dilutes the very real difficulties facing many other households across Northern Ireland. “The Review, one of three being carried out across the UK, was led by Professor Christine Liddell, a local fuel poverty expert. She said, “While efforts to tackle fuel poverty in Northern Ireland have made measurable inroads, the severity of fuel poverty remains profound for many households. The Review highlights the need for a local approach to tackling fuel poverty which focuses on Northern Ireland’s unique fuel poverty landscape.”]]>