SDLP Opposition MLA Mark H Durkan has condemned the Executive’s decision to limit fuel support for pensioner households.
Mr Durkan said if the Executive put as much effort into finding a solution as they have into avoiding responsibility, people would be in a much better position.
Speaking following the Communities Minister Gordon Lyons’ statement on the Winter Fuel Payment in the Assembly, Foyle MLA Mr Durkan said:
“We in the Opposition recognise the constraints of parity, but parity should not mean parrotry.
“The Minister, and his Executive colleagues have failed to offer an alternative to the winter fuel payment and their incredible lack of foresight in terms of addressing growing rates of fuel poverty has been astonishing.
“Quite frankly, it’s misleading of Minister Lyons to deny any culpability with regards to this decision. He had the power not to introduce this punitive measure in the North but didn’t take it – now it will plunge thousands of pensioners deeper into poverty.
“Individuals who receive the full state pension worth £220.20 per week won’t qualify for Pension Credit and under these changes won’t be entitled to a winter fuel payment.
“It’s ludicrous that a household entitled to a yearly income of £11,450.50 isn’t deemed worthy of support.
“Many pensioners are already struggling to make ends meet, forced to choose between heating and other necessities and that’s with the winter fuel payment.
“For many years, the SDLP have called on successive Communities Ministers to develop a pension outreach programme to improve the uptake of pension benefits such as Pension Credit, those steps weren’t taken.
“There is still lack of clarity on whether those steps will be taken.
“The Opposition wrote to Minister Lyons last month to voice our concerns and to ask what alternative his department had explored, including introducing income threshold criteria rather than basing eligibility solely on benefit entitlement.
“He failed to respond.
“The Executive tactic of pointing the finger at Westminster for every bad decision is wearing thin.
“They need to take responsibility for the decisions they make and offer vulnerable, pension-age households assurances that they won’t be left out in the cold.”
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