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8 December 2003

VIEWS SOUGHT ON HOW TO FIGHT FUEL POVERTY

Members of the public are being invited to have their say in the next stage in the battle against the scourge of fuel poverty that affects almost a third of households in Northern Ireland.

David Crothers, Director of Housing at the Department for Social Development, today launched a series of consultation meetings to be held in Belfast, Cookstown and Londonderry. Speaking at the first event at Grosvenor House in Belfast, he said:

"Living in a cold home is not just uncomfortable; it can be life threatening. We have already taken some steps to tackle the problem but much more is required. It is unacceptable that 33pc of homes in Northern Ireland are affected compared with 17pc in Scotland and 9pc in England.

"We want to hear everyone’s view on fuel poverty and how we should go about eliminating this problem. It is vitally important that those with experience of living with fuel poverty and those who tackle it make their views known to the Department."

The Department has issued a consultation paper called "Towards a Fuel Poverty Strategy for Northern Ireland". It has also appointed National Energy Action NI, a local fuel poverty charity to help in organising the events to hear from those directly affected by fuel poverty or those working in related areas.

Majella McCloskey, Director of National Energy Action NI stated "This consultation process allows all of us to consider and build a society where affordable energy is a reality, and where warm, healthy housing is available to all. I look forward to developing solutions to this problem, appropriate to the needs of fuel poor households."

Good news from Scotland will also be shared at the consultation event, with fuel poverty campaigner Ann Loughrey, detailing how Scotland has managed to half the proportions in fuel poverty from 35% to 17%.

The timetable for and location of the consultation events is:

Belfast – Monday 8th December 2003 at 9.30am in Grosvenor House, Glengall Street.

Cookstown – Tuesday 9th December 2003 at 9.30 am in the Burnavon Centre, Burn Road.

Derry – Wednesday 10th December at 9.30am in the City Hotel, Queen’s Quay.

Further information is available from National Energy Action NI at 9023 9909 or 07703 210390 or e-mail fuelpovertystrategy@nea.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. In Northern Ireland 33pc of all households are fuel poor, compared with only 9pc in England and 17%pc in Scotland.

  2. Fuel poverty is caused by a combination of factors including the need for heat, low household income, high fuel costs or the use of expensive fuel types and poor energy efficiency.

  3. Fuel poverty is the situation in which a household would have to spend more than 10pc of its income on fuel to maintain an acceptable level of temperature throughout the home.
  4. Copies of the report are available from DSD Housing Division, Tel: 028 9091 0068 or website www.dsdni.gov.uk

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