News
Council Calls for Action on Fuel Poverty
12 December 2007
At the December Corporate Committee (11 December 2007),
North Down Borough Council unanimously supported a Notice
of Motion by Deputy Mayor Councillor Wesley Irvine calling
for action on fuel poverty and, in particular, that the
Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie, would
continue to make funding available for the Warm Homes Scheme.
Northern Ireland has the highest rate of fuel poverty in
the United Kingdom, with 1 in 3 households suffering its
effects. Fuel Poverty damages health and social well being
and those who suffer most are people in vulnerable groups
i.e. the elderly, children and those who are disabled or
have a long-term illness.
Speaking about the issue Councillor Irvine commented:
The issue of fuel poverty is one that is often hidden from
public view and has proved difficult to solve. The number
of winter deaths among those aged 65+ rose to 333 last year,
the highest number since 2000.
In light of these figures, I believe that there should
be no cuts to funding for pensioners' homes and would call
on the Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie,
to make it clear that funding for the Warm Homes Scheme
will not be at risk. This is especially important as fuel
prices have seen a sharp increase in recent times due to
global pressures.
For some time grants for energy efficiency and central heating
have only been directed at people on benefits and so missed
out large numbers of our elderly population who are on small
pensions and have little savings.
Elderly people who have worked all their lives should not
be placed in a situation where, and I am sure this is happening
across the country, if they decided to put their heating
on it means they will miss out on such basic essentials
as food.
He concluded: The Elderly folk of North Down and Northern
Ireland as a whole deserve and warrant our support in the
eradication of fuel poverty.
The notice of motion was seconded by Councillor Alan Leslie
who highlighted that younger people who are disabled or
have caring responsibilities may also be affected by fuel
poverty - it is not just an issue for the elderly.
For more information on the Warm Homes Scheme visit http://www.eaga.com/government_contracts/government_contracts.htm
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