A total of 8,000 more homes could have a new efficient boiler as an additional £6m is allocated to boiler replacement scheme.

The scheme offers owner occupiers a grant of up to £1,000 to replace inefficient boilers, with energy efficient condensing oil or gas boilers; switching from oil to gas; or switching to a wood pellet boiler. It is available to those who earn less than £40,000 a year with an inefficient boiler of at least 15 years and is dependent on total gross income.

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The additional money, secured from the European Regional Development Fund, will increase the numbers of homes likely to benefit from the scheme from 16,000 to 24,000. More than 6,500 households across Northern Ireland have already had new boilers installed.

Making the announcement, Housing Minister Nelson McCausland said: "With this additional money now in place, I want to encourage others to take advantage of these possible savings – potentially £2700 over ten years in an average three bedroom semi-detached house.

"With such good weather, now is the ideal time to get the work done and I would encourage anyone who’s household income is less than £40,000 a year with an inefficient boiler of at least 15 years, to contact the Housing Executive on 03448 920900 or log onto nidirect."

(CD/JP)