MLAs have hit out at ‘cruel and unfair’ delays that have left Northern Irish folks waiting for Energy Support Payments already being dished out in GB.
The scheme is being managed centrally from Westminster through the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
Sinn Fein says the fact Northern Ireland has no operating Executive is the reason why - and why Northern Ireland has suffered delays.
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Families in England, Scotland and Wales have already received at least £66 of the promised £400, which is being drip fed to households in monthly payments from October to March.
Homes over the water will get £66 off their monthly bill in October and November, with further £67 discounts applied in January, March and April.
While those with prepayment meters are getting the equivalent amount in vouchers, which they then need to redeem.
But the UK’s BEIS is yet to provide details of the Northern Ireland scheme despite fuel poverty levels higher than many other parts of the UK.
Former Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd said: “Workers and families are struggling to pay through the roof energy bills and they need support now as we approach a cold winter.
“They were promised the £400 energy scheme would be in place weeks ago, but they have once again been hit by uncertainty and delays by the British government.
“It’s cruel and unfair that people are being left in the dark on when they will receive the much-needed financial support that they are entitled to.
“People could have had the £400 already, but the DUP’s boycott of the Executive has resulted in ordinary people who are struggling having to wait longer, despite the DUP making promises the scheme would be in place.”
Mid Ulster MLA Linda Dillon said: “This scheme should have been rolled out by the Department for Economy but we don’t have an Executive. If we did... this would have been delivered by the Executive long before now.
“Households are in distress... [and] we have no definitive date. This is cruel.”
A Department for Economy spokesperson said: “The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is delivering the Energy Bill Support Scheme (payment of £400) through electricity suppliers to electricity consumers here locally and details of the payments for consumers on prepayment meters are still being worked out by BEIS in discussion with NI Utility Regulator and NI suppliers.”
BEIS is yet to reveal when Northern Ireland homes will get their £400 following a number of requests for dates.
They were quick to point out families here will get the same level of support as those in Great Britain but when pushed on when, they simply said we will receive it “this winter”.
We asked the DUP about concerns their Stormont boycott is partly to blame.
East Belfast MLA David Brooks said: "Sinn Fein ignored every warning in relation to devolution and the threat posed to it by the Northern Ireland Protocol.
"The DUP will continue to work at Westminster to secure the necessary help for the people of Northern Ireland. Funding for these schemes comes only as a result of our place within the United Kingdom and we want to see all parts of the United Kingdom benefitting equally."
Its Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart raised the payment delay at the House of Commons.
She said: “Mr Speaker, as you know the Energy Bill Support Scheme payments are landing in accounts across the UK, yet in Northern Ireland doubt now abounds with the Utility Regulator yesterday saying the agreement with Government to advance those payments in November through a lump sum may no longer be the case.
“Can you advise whether the Northern Ireland Secretary of State or Business Secretary has advised you of their intention to make a statement on this.. or what avenues I could pursue to get the answers my hard pressed constituents so desperately need?”
The Speaker replied saying he has had no notice of a statement on the issue.
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