SDLP Ballyarnett councillor Rory Farrell
Speaking in the Guildhall in support of Council’s new £248,000 Discretionary Emergency Fuel Support Programme which will provide £100 worth of gas, oil or electricity to eligible households, the Ballyarnett representative said,
“It’s very clear that families right across this city and district are feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis.
“Inflation is rampant, the cost of food, fuel and energy has gone through the roof. Support from Westminster has been negligible, support from Stormont has been absolutely non-existent.
“So, it’s important that we as a council to do what we can with the limited available resources that we have at our disposal.
“We spent a lot of time developing this. We’ve had committees, we’ve had the hardship working group and we’ve got here.
“Is it perfect? No. Is it going to help people? Most definitely. The scheme that we have is going to help about 2,500 households across our city and district.
“But, we have to accept that there are powers out there, in Stormont and at Westminster, who have much deeper pockets than this council.
“And, they’re not doing enough to help people who are facing fuel poverty, who are trying to survive through this cost of living crisis.”
Added Cllr Farrell: “And only last week, Liz Truss when she became prime minister, introduced an energy cap that we’re all going to be paying for for years, through taxes and borrowing.
“And at the same time, she chose not to implement a windfall tax on the energy giants who are expected to make excess profits of over £170 billion pounds this year.
“They have the power to fund this properly. We can do what we can and we are doing what we can, but Westminster has a massive role to play in this, and it is not doing enough for anyone in this city and district.”
The scheme is expected to open on 17th October to households that meet any of the following eligibility criteria:
A member of the household is entitled to Free School Meals;
The household in in debt with an energy provider;
There is a vulnerable person in the household;
A member of the household has recently been become unemployed;
A member of the household is on a zero hour contract;
The gross annual income of the household is less than £40,000.
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