Extra funding of £2 million has been announced to support those impacted by the fuel price crisis.

Approximately 20,000 families will benefit under the Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme, with investment from the Department for Communities, in collaboration with Bryson Charitable Group, the Consumer Council and a range of local energy companies.

Announcing the new support, Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said: "The unprecedented energy price rises have meant that those who are already struggling financially are facing added pressures during the winter months and there is therefore a need for an immediate response.

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"This additional funding is vital in providing emergency financial support to vulnerable families to meet their energy costs and where it is essential to protect people’s mental health and physical wellbeing.

"The scheme is an excellent example of government working together with private companies and the voluntary and community sector to benefit those in need of support in the time ahead."

The scheme will open on 06 January 2022 and will run until 31 March 2022.

Welcoming the scheme, Noyona Chundur, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council, added: "We are delighted to have facilitated the establishment of a scheme that will help ease the heavy burden of energy price rises for 20,000 households this winter.

"We welcome the substantial financial support provided by the Department for Communities, the operational expertise provided by Bryson Charitable Group, and the practical and financial support provided by 11 companies from across the energy sector who have pledged over £250k in donations to the scheme.

"We hope this will lead to future collaboration between Government, regulators, consumer advocacy bodies, and the energy sector on initiatives to tackle the causes of fuel poverty."