Lyons launches public consultation on new Warm Healthy Homes Fund
Date published:
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has launched a public consultation on the proposed Warm Healthy Homes Fund, a new energy efficiency scheme designed to improve warmth, health outcomes and energy affordability for low-income households across Northern Ireland.
Thousands of hard-pressed households will be eligible to apply for the fund, which will adopt a whole-house and fabric-first approach to improving the energy efficiency of qualifying homes.
The Warm Healthy Homes Fund is a key action within the Warm Healthy Homes Strategy 2026–36, which was launched by Minister Lyons in February to tackle fuel poverty among low-income households across the owner-occupier and private rented sectors.
Minister Lyons said:
“I am committed to ensuring that everyone in Northern Ireland has access to a warm, safe, secure and affordable home in which they can live and thrive.
“This consultation marks another important step forward in delivering on that vision and ensuring that the Warm Healthy Homes Strategy delivers for those most in need.
“The proposed Warm Healthy Homes Fund will provide a long-term, sustainable solution to fuel poverty, modernise energy inefficient homes, build on the success of the Affordable Warmth Scheme and provide targeted, practical support for low-income households.”
The Warm Healthy Homes Fund will improve homes by addressing insulation and ventilation first followed by the introduction of heating upgrades or renewable technologies.
The Minister added:
“By upgrading and enhancing the energy efficiency of homes, we will help hard-pressed families and people reduce their energy bills and improve health outcomes by making their homes easier and more affordable to heat.
“As Minister for Housing, I am committed to protecting the most vulnerable households in our society, while also laying the foundations for the future.
“I therefore encourage members of the public and anyone with an interest to participate in this consultation and help shape the final design of the Warm Healthy Homes Fund.”
The consultation invites views on key elements of the proposed scheme, including:
- Revised eligibility criteria
- Increased grant limits per household
- Additional measures such as low-carbon and renewable technologies
- Enhanced consumer protections
- Stronger quality standards aligned with recognised frameworks
Welcoming the launch of the consultation, Pat Austin, Director of National Energy Action NI and chair of the Fuel Poverty Coalition Northern Ireland, said:
“Fuel poverty remains at crisis level in Northern Ireland, with far too many households struggling to afford to keep warm. Improving the energy efficiency of our homes is a lasting solution to reduce household energy bills and improve health and wellbeing.
“We welcome this consultation as an important step towards a new energy efficiency scheme for low-income and vulnerable households and urge everyone to have their say in shaping a scheme that is so evidently needed.”
Nigel Brady, Director of Bryson Energy, said:
“I strongly welcome this consultation as a significant step toward ensuring everyone in Northern Ireland can live in a warm, healthy home. The proposed Warm Healthy Homes Fund offers a sustainable approach to tackling fuel poverty, expanding support, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing health outcomes. I encourage everyone to engage with the consultation to help shape the scheme and ensure support is targeted at those most in need.”
Nuala Toman, Head of Accessibility at Disability Action, said:
“Disability Action welcomes the launch of the Department for Communities consultation on the Warm, Healthy Homes Fund and encourages disabled people, families and communities across Northern Ireland to have their say.
“Disabled people are disproportionately impacted by fuel poverty, poor housing conditions and rising energy costs, making accessible, affordable and energy-efficient homes essential to health, dignity, independence and equality. This consultation represents an important opportunity to help shape a system that better responds to the needs of disabled people and those most at risk of poverty and exclusion.”
Responses to the consultation will help inform the final design of the Warm Healthy Homes Fund ahead of launch.
The consultation is open now and runs for 12 weeks until 19 August 2026. More information and details of how to respond can be found at:
The Department will also run two in-person and one online public consultation events. Details will follow.
Notes to editors:
- Photo caption: Communities Minister Gordon Lyons today launched the Warm Healthy Homes Fund public consultation alongside, from left: Shannon Barber (National Energy Action, Policy and Campaigns Officer NI), Nuala Toman (Head of Accessibility at Disability Action), and Nigel Brady (Director of Bryson Energy).
- A whole‑house, fabric‑first approach means upgrading homes in a joined‑up way, starting with the building fabric, for example insulation, walls, windows and airtightness to stop heat being lost. This approach, alongside the additional introduction of heating upgrades or renewable technologies, helps reduce energy use and lower bills.
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