18 November 2002
FUEL POVERTY PROJECT SAVES LIVES AND MONEY
Benefits valued at more than £1.5 million have been delivered by an investment of £300,000 in a pilot project to defeat fuel poverty in Armagh and Dungannon, Des Browne MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, said today.
The Minister, who has responsibility for Health and Housing, was speaking at Stormont at the launch of a report on the benefits of the project to vulnerable people living in the villages of Aughnacloy and Darkley, which are part of the Armagh and Dungannon Heath Action Zone. He said:
"The results of this pilot show how we can work effectively with the community to tackle the distressing effects of fuel poverty. By installing better heating and insulation in the homes of older people we both improve the quality of their lives and also reduce the costs of avoidable illnesses on the health service."I know, from my work in the Department of Health, that living in a cold home can have far-reaching effects on vulnerable people. We can learn much from this study, particularly about the problems faced by people living in rural areas, as we roll out the Warm Homes scheme throughout Northern Ireland.
"The success of the Aughnacloy and Darkley project shows that we can beat fuel poverty and bring wider benefits to the individuals and the community."
The project was jointly funded by Department for Social Development and Northern Ireland Electricity, and Mr. Browne welcomed the use of the NIE Customer Levy, which supplied £250,000 to the project: "This has proved to be a powerful and flexible tool in designing and delivering locally responsive measures to fuel poor households," he said.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Fuel poverty occurs when a household has to spend more than 10pc of its income on keeping warm.
2. The calculated saving of £1.5m is based on an Energy Savings Trust Framework.
3. The Armagh and Dungannon Health Action Zone report "Transforming Lives: Lessons Learned and Shared" is available from Eleanor Gill at 028 8772 9017
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