AQW 51743/11-16
Mr Basil McCrea
NI21
Lagan Valley
Tabled Date: 01/12/2015
Answered On Date: 15/12/2015
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development whether new referrals to the Affordable Warmth Scheme can be made before April 2016.
Answer:
The Affordable Warmth Scheme is a new and innovative approach to tackling fuel poverty. It was launched in September 2014 and targets households considered to be on a low income and at risk of extreme or severe fuel poverty. Householders are identified using a targeting tool developed by the Ulster University; however, Councils have autonomy to accept referrals into the scheme from non targeted vulnerable households. It has taken time for the scheme to bed in, which is comparable to the service experienced by householders in the early days of the former Warm Homes Scheme. The Affordable Warmth Scheme is targeted at households in areas of severe and extreme fuel poverty. Councils visit properties within these targeted areas and refer households who may be eligible to the Housing Executive to process a grant application. There is clear evidence that the targeted area based approach is working and councils are finding households in severe fuel poverty in need of energy efficiency improvements. It is important to manage the expectation of householders who have already been surveyed and are awaiting an approval from the Housing Executive. In view of the volume of referrals already in the system, the Housing Executive and councils are working collaboratively to progress the outstanding cases as quickly as possible. I want to assure you that while the focus is on the cases already received, my Department has been very clear to both local councils and the Housing Executive that vulnerable households in urgent need must continue to be referred to the scheme and they will be treated as a priority. My Department continues to scrutinize overall Affordable Warmth Scheme performance very closely.
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