Northern Ireland’s largest Government , the Department for Communities , launched a Fuel Poverty Strategy for Public Consultation recently. CSPA NI responded. We said that Fuel Poverty was a big issue which affected many Older People. We welcomed the opportunity to contribute to the Consultation as nearly 25% of Northern Ireland’s Population lived in Fuel Poverty.
We argued that the restoration of the Winter Fuel Payment would be seen as a critical way forward. We also argued that there was a need for a Cross Departmental Action Plan to drive forward the Strategy.
This was essential giving energy inflation , one of the lowest State Pensions in Europe , a relatively low Civil Service Pensions (62% of Northern Ireland Civil Service Pensioners get a Pension if less than £10,000 a year), badly insulated ageing properties.
