Minister launches consultation on a Fuel Poverty Strategy
Date published:
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has launched a consultation on a new Fuel Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland and new energy efficiency scheme for low-income, vulnerable households.
This sets out a long-term plan for ensuring everyone can live in a warm, healthy home. It builds on the objectives of the Housing Supply Strategy, launched by the Minister last week.
Minister Lyons said:
“My vision is of a warm, healthy home for everyone in Northern Ireland. As I said when I announced the Housing Supply Strategy, that goes beyond bricks and mortar.
“I am pleased to issue a consultation on a new Fuel Poverty Strategy that sets out how we propose to tackle fuel poverty in the medium to long-term.
“We want to make homes more energy efficient and make lasting improvements for consumers. To ensure that we prioritise long-term, sustainable solutions, this consultation also outlines proposals for a new and more ambitious energy efficiency scheme for low-income, vulnerable households.
“Cold homes can lead to poor physical and mental health for residents. Improving energy efficiency not only means lower bills for householders, but also better outcomes in terms of their well-being. That is why I am making these proposals and I look forward to hearing your views.”
Recent modelling suggests that, in 2022, more than a quarter of households here were living in fuel poverty.
Factors impacting on fuel poverty include the energy efficiency of homes, the energy needs of the household, the cost of energy, household income and people’s ability to access energy solutions that are right for them.
Tackling fuel poverty in Northern Ireland will help protect people, particularly the most vulnerable, from the effects of cold and damp living conditions. Doing so sustainably will also make a positive contribution to the Executive’s legislative commitments.
The draft Fuel Poverty Strategy builds on information gathered though an extensive stakeholder engagement process and sets out key priorities and actions for government. The approach recognises our legislative responsibilities and focuses on ensuring a Just Transition to low-carbon homes. It also proposes a new method to measuring and reporting on fuel poverty.
The consultation will run until 6 March 2025 and there are a range of opportunities to engage.
Details can be found on the DfC website
Notes to editors:
- This consultation is in relation to a draft Fuel Poverty Strategy which applies to Northern Ireland only.
- Most recent modelled fuel poverty figures can be found here: Impact of 2022 fuel prices on fuel poverty in Northern Ireland
- Responses to this consultation can be made online or via email
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