With fuel poverty fast approaching 50% of households a call has been made for Northern Ireland’s Government to place fuel poverty as a priority on their agenda.

Fuel poverty issues have reached crisis levels says, Alliance Social Development Spokesperson Judith Cochrane. She claims that 60% of older people and 83% of lone older people are living in fuel poverty.

The Alliance spokesperson has urged the government to place fuel poverty as a key priority for the long term and introduce an ‘assistance package’ to help people out of fuel poverty.

Ms Cochrane has suggested something similar to The Energy Assistance Package that is being delivered in Scotland.

Based around four factors the existing Scottish package suggests: tariff advice, energy efficiency advice, the combination of energy efficient initiatives into one programme and assistance in obtaining all relevant benefits and sources of income.

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"Tackling energy efficiency in homes should be a top of the list, said Ms Cochrane "Whether that be loft and cavity wall insulation or double-glazing"

Large amounts of energy and money are wasted trying to heat and power poorly insulated homes.

The Department of Social Development (DSD) has this year invested some money in making homes more energy efficient but Ms Cochrane claims this has not gone "far enough".

She said: "Of 500,000 homes using oil, around 400,000 of these have old, inefficient boilers yet DSD funding aims to replace only1300 boilers."

It is understood that Ms Cochrane wants The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to come on board with the DSD to help fight fuel poverty.

"These departments must recognise the serious health implications of fuel poverty, given the strong link between fuel poverty and costs to the NHS. For every pound invested in fuel poverty measures, 42 pence is saved in health costs," claimed Ms Cochrane.

Firmus 10% Cheaper than Phoenix

Meanwhile Firmus Energy has announced that they will attempt to keep gas prices as low as possible, good news for those struggling to heat their homes.

Firmus today announced that even though they have come to the end of their price freeze period, they will not only honour their commitment to be at least 7.5% cheaper than Phoenix but increase the discount to 10% off Phoenix prices.

The company have said will continue to track prices and no matter what the competitor charges, they will be cheaper for at least two years.

(LB/BMcC)