AQW 43938/11-15

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 19/03/2015
Answered On Date: 02/04/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQW 42828/11-15, how his Department intends to end the use of open fire and open fire back boiler heating systems in Housing Executive homes.

Answer:

The Housing Executive has advised that through their planned investment programmes they have installed almost eighty thousand oil or gas heating installations into their tenants’ homes. They have also provided the option of an electric focal point fire which continues to provide an alternative heat source, if required.

However, in line with the Housing Executive’s heating policy, and in order to help alleviate fuel poverty for some Housing Executive tenants, they can allow the retention of an existing open coal fire with no back boiler. In a heating replacement scheme, where an open fire with back boiler exists, the tenant has the option to retain the open fire or have an electric focal point fire. The back boiler is removed with a fire back and fireplace provided for room heat only.