A vital support scheme intended to help Northern Ireland families with escalating fuel costs is not anticipated to be delivered until this summer, the Stormont Communities Minister has confirmed. The announcement follows recent protests across the region against rising energy prices.
Executive ministers approved £19.2 million for the initiative on Thursday, adding to £17.2 million in support from the UK Government announced last month. The Stormont scheme will allow 300,000 low-income families to apply for a £100 prepaid card, usable at home heating oil suppliers.
Eligibility extends to those receiving an income-based benefit, a disability benefit, a state pension, or with an income under £30,000. However, Gordon Lyons revealed the crucial assistance will not reach households until the summer at the earliest.
He told BBC Radio Ulster that it will take “at least three months to get this into place”.
Mr Lyons said the scheme is “not everything that we would like to see done for people in Northern Ireland” and urged the UK Government to do more.
“I fully understand and recognise the huge increases in cost, and this doesn’t go the full way to covering that, but we will do what we can with what we have,” he said.
“But ultimately if we’re really serious about helping people here, we need to see our government at Westminster do what they can with the levers that they have, levers which are not open to us, and do this simply and quickly by cutting fuel duty, by looking at tax and VAT – that is what can bring immediate relief to people.”
Mr Lyons added: “That help that could come from London in terms of our tax would not only help people in households, but also help business as well that is really struggling.
“I want to be really upfront with people in Northern Ireland today in saying, I understand this is not enough, I understand that this will take time but we have limited levers at our disposal but we’re trying our best to get out what we can as soon as we can.”
