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Ulster Says No to Boiler Scrappage Scheme
8th March 2010
Northern Ireland is set to become the only part of the United Kingdom not to operate a Boiler Scrappage Scheme, following a statement earlier today in the Northern Ireland Assembly, by Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie MLA.
Minister Ritchie's comments came during a debate on a motion tabled by the Democratic Unionist Party's Simon Hamilton MLA. The motion called upon Minister Ritchie to consider the introduction of a Boiler Scrappage Scheme in Northern Ireland, similar to the one already introduced by HM Government in England.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr. Bell said, "A boiler scrappage scheme could help take some people who are unable to benefit from the Warm Homes Scheme out of fuel poverty or stop others from slipping into fuel poverty. The Housing Executive's 2006 House Condition Survey shows that almost 12,000 homes with an income of £20,000 a year or more are in fuel poverty. It is likely that a great many of these households are ineligible for the likes of the Warm Homes Scheme yet are living in fuel poverty.
"The working poor can often fall through the gaps in schemes like Warm Homes and it is important that we do more to address their needs and a boiler scrappage scheme may be able to go so way to lifting some people out of fuel poverty. In Northern Ireland we could replicate the English scheme as the Scots have or tailor it like the Welsh to over 60s. What is clear is that with people in every other part of the United Kingdom benefitting from a boiler scrappage scheme, we should ensure that people here are able to obtain the same advantages.
"Irrespective of whatever format a scheme would ultimately take, I feel that there is a real opportunity for the Minister for Social Development to seriously investigate the boiler scrappage scheme as a constructive intervention that will result in saving householders money in energy bills, cut CO2 emissions and stimulate the economy."
Northern Ireland has amongst the highest levels of fuel poverty of any UK region.
When the Chancellor for the Exchequer Alastair Darling MP announced the English Boiler Scrappage Scheme in December, funding was also made available for the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to operate similar schemes. Subsequently, variations on the English scheme were established in Scotland and Wales. However, OilFiredUp.com understands the funding allocated to Northern Ireland will instead be used to plug a hole elsewhere in the province's public spending plans for 2010.
Intriguingly, the decision by Minister Ritchie appears to be at odds with commitments given by the Minister earlier this year. In January 2010, Minister Ritchie said, "I am committed to ensuring that all the money I have allocated to tackling fuel poverty will be fully utilised in providing energy efficiency measures, thus keeping vulnerable people warm in their homes."
Unfortunately for homeowners and householders with older and less efficient boilers in Northern Ireland, Minister Ritchie's commitment to tackling fuel poverty, does not extend to the introduction of a Boiler Scrappage Scheme in the province.
