AQW 43659/22-27


Mr Danny Donnelly
Alliance Party
East Antrim


Tabled Date: 13/04/2026
Answered On Date: 15/07/2026
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any (i) steps his Department is taking to identify and support terminally ill people at risk of fuel poverty, in light of research by Marie Curie indicating that around one in three people spend their final year of life in fuel poverty in Northern Ireland; and (ii) additional interventions planned over the coming months, should energy and other essential household costs continue to rise.


Answer:
My officials are currently progressing work on the development of the inaugural Warm Healthy Homes Strategy Action Plan. This will set out agreed timelines, responsibilities and delivery arrangements across Departments and relevant partners for the first phase of the Strategy.
The Strategy includes an action to explore end-of-life energy needs and challenges and provide appropriate support. In addition, the Strategy includes a commitment to identify and act on improvements to data-sharing that could help target assistance at those most in need.
We will work with delivery partners and stakeholders including Marie Curie to develop measures to gain an understanding of the impact that our actions are having as the strategy is implemented.
I am firmly committed to providing practical assistance to vulnerable households struggling with the rise in home heating oil costs. I have secured Executive agreement to increase the £17.2 million allocated by the UK Government with an additional £19.2 million – more than doubling the support available to help households with home heating oil.
This means assistance to the value of £100 for oil can be offered to over 300k households across NI. This covers a range of vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities, older people and those on a low income.
On Wednesday 27 May, I launched the Warm Healthy Homes Fund public consultation, which will run for 12 weeks, closing on 19 August 2026.
This Fund will replace the current Affordable Warmth Scheme. The policy intent of the Warm Healthy Homes Fund is to provide long-term, sustainable solutions to fuel poverty by prioritising those most in need and improving the energy efficiency of low-income households’ homes. This will help to lower energy bills while also reducing carbon emissions.