SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan
The Foyle MLA’s comments follow a taskforce meeting this morning where it was confirmed that the UK government will deliver the energy bill discount scheme.
Said Mr Durkan MLA: “The Chancellor has announced that the UK government will deliver the £400 energy discount to all households but has failed to furnish the public with any detail on how or when this payment will be made.
“It is hugely regrettable that it has taken so long to resolve this issue in the absence of an Executive.
“I flagged up my concerns with the Communities and Finance Ministers back in May when the Cost of Living package was first announced.
“Since then households have experienced several energy hikes; the longer it takes to issue this support the less value and impact it will have.
“Today’s announcement comes three months after Finance Minister Conor Murphy said they were working out the details.
“It is simply not good enough.
“To date this £400 payment has been shrouded in uncertainty despite it being glaringly clear from the outset that issuing this money would prove difficult in the absence of an Executive.
“Caretaker Ministers failed to act and it would seem the ’all talk, no plan’ mantra prevails.
“The complete lack of detail off the back of the Chancellor’s headline won’t fill people with confidence.
“The £400 energy payment will help but the longer households wait, the less impact it will have.
“It is embarrassing to say the least, that Ministers here are relying on a Tory government to step in and do their work for them.
“Executive Departments were given additional spending authority this week.
“We now need to hear from Ministers what instructions they have given to officials to ensure that the entire machinery of government is working to support people ahead of a very difficult winter.
“Ministers are still in post, it is time that they got back to work,” added the Foyle MLA.
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