A £17 million support package aimed at helping households cope with rising heating oil costs in Northern Ireland/The North has been criticised by Stormont ministers who say the funding falls far short of what families need.
The money forms part of a wider UK government package designed to assist vulnerable households struggling with increasing heating oil prices.
However, Northern Ireland/The North’s Finance Minister John O’Dowd said the amount allocated to the region is “extremely disappointing”, warning it will provide only limited help to households already facing rising living costs.
The minister said the £17m allocation would equate to roughly £35 per household, a figure he said does not reflect the reality of the energy pressures faced by many families.
Northern Ireland/The North is particularly vulnerable to changes in oil prices because almost two-thirds of homes rely on oil-fired central heating, the highest proportion anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is not covered by the UK energy price cap, meaning households can be exposed to sudden and significant increases when global fuel prices rise.
Recent increases in kerosene prices have been linked to instability in global energy markets, pushing the cost of heating oil higher and placing additional financial pressure on households.
Many families in Northern Ireland/The North must purchase heating oil in large quantities to fill domestic tanks, often requiring several hundred pounds upfront for a single delivery.
Stormont ministers say this makes the region particularly vulnerable during periods of price volatility, especially in rural communities where homes are not connected to the mains gas network.
The Executive is expected to distribute the funding to help the most vulnerable households, but ministers have indicated they will continue to press the UK Treasury for further support.
They say additional funding will be required to properly address the long-standing issue of heating affordability for households across Northern Ireland/The North.
