165 Days and Counting

165 days and Counting. This is the number of days that have gone by since the Executive has seriously considered the issue of fuel poverty.

It is estimated that fuel poverty is affecting at least 100,000 households across Northern Ireland. Given the temperatures in recent days it must be anticipated that a mixture of high energy prices and the weather will mean that many other households will be affected.

The Assembly will be briefed on a very timely and valuable report from Save the Children.They commissioned Professor Christine Liddell from University of Ulster to write a report ' The Impact of Fuel Poverty on Children'. In this report she highlights that

"The fuel poverty rate among families with children here is one of the highest in the developed world...Lone parent families are hardest hit."

So can our Assembly do anything about Fuel Poverty. For once the answer is yes.

The Minister of Social Development Margaret Ritchie has had a paper waiting to go before the Executive for several months. Elements of the paper will have direct financial benefits to the fuel poor as well as setting in place some measures to tackle the problem more widely. It was expected to be discussed last Thursday, however, it was not.

It has to look now very unlikely that any real effort to tackle fuel poverty will be made in time for Christmas. Come on Executive - sit down - talk - save lives in time for Christmas.