To ask the Minister for Communities to outline his immediate plans to mitigate fuel poverty for people who are most vulnerable.

The impacts of Fuel Poverty can be felt right across our society. Living in a cold home creates health risks for people of all ages. Cold and damp homes are linked to worsening respiratory conditions, cardiovascular diseases, poor mental health, dementia and hypothermia. This is particularly important for vulnerable people or those with existing health conditions.

My officials are currently drafting a new Fuel Poverty Strategy which will set out a long-term strategic approach to reducing fuel poverty. The new Fuel Poverty Strategy will take a needs-based approach to targeting support, with a focus on long term sustainable solutions to address the causes of fuel poverty and reduce the poor health outcomes associated with cold homes.

The strategy will contain some key themes including how government supports those living in or at risk of fuel poverty, improved collaboration to target the hard to reach and make best use of our resources, improve health outcomes and provide consumer protection through the energy transition.

My Department continues to deliver the Affordable Warmth Scheme for owner occupiers and those in the private rented sector most at risk of fuel poverty. This application-based scheme provides low-income households with a range of heating and insulation measures to improve the thermal efficiency of their home.

I am developing a new more ambitious fuel poverty intervention to replace the Affordable Warmth Scheme when to comes to an end in March 2026. This fuel poverty intervention will ensure people living in owner occupied or private rented homes and experiencing fuel poverty, receive vitally important energy efficiency work.

For those in need of immediate support, additional financial support is available through my Department’s Discretionary Support Service. This is unique to Northern Ireland and is there to provide support to people in financial need and those who require short term assistance in crisis or emergency situations.

My Department’s ‘Make the Call’ service continues to support individuals and families who otherwise may be missing out on benefits they are entitled to. My Department’s communication team regularly undertakes activities to promote Pension Credit to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility for pension credit and any other benefits. Our State Pension staff also triage customers who may be eligible to receive Pension Credit and introduce them directly to the Pension Credit team.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive also offers support with energy-efficiency advice that is targeted actively at vulnerable households and those that will benefit most from energy efficiency related advice. As the One-Stop Shop for energy advice across all tenures in Northern Ireland, they offer information to help with energy efficiency, grants, signposting, renewable energy advice, how to switch energy provider, debt assistance, fuel poverty advice and how to benefit from oil-buying savings across NI.