AQW 46017/11-15

Mr Basil McCrea
NI21
Lagan Valley

Tabled Date: 19/05/2015
Answered On Date: 01/06/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development for his assessment of whether the focus on targeting households will discourage self-referrals to the Affordable Warmth Scheme.

Answer:

The Affordable Warmth Scheme is primarily a targeted area based scheme which finds and assists households in extreme or severe fuel poverty. I expect that the vast majority of homes assisted will be in the targeted areas.

Councils have the discretion to accept non targeted referrals from a range of sources including health professionals, social workers and Environmental Health Officers. Therefore, I do not believe that eligible householders will be discouraged from applying for the scheme.