Fuel poverty ought to be specifically mentioned in Section 7.6viii as an adverse impact of the Department’s constrained Capital allocation for Housing and Affordable Warmth.

We welcome the opportunity to respond to the Department of Finance’s consultation on the overarching draft Budget 2025-26. Our recommendations are driven by the urgent need to end fuel poverty in Northern Ireland, affecting as many as 40% of households according to recent polling.

We warmly welcome the draft Corporate Plan’s commitment to partnership and evidence-based practice. NEA NI is pleased to work in partnership with the PHA through its Northern Exposure Programme, to deliver initiates like the Belfast Warm and Well Project.

NEA NI commends that the NI Executive has published a draft Programme for Government and we welcome the opportunity to respond to this public consultation.

We welcome the opportunity to provide comment on this draft Equality Impact Assessment of the initial decisions taken by the Minister for Communities in relation to the 2024-25 Budget.

We welcome the opportunity to respond to this Equality Impact Assessment. Our comments are informed by our research, expertise and extensive experience supporting fuel-poor households and vulnerable energy consumers in Northern Ireland.

NEA engaged the University of Ulster to undertake research into the mental health and wellbeing impacts of fuel poverty and how energy efficiency measures can be used to combat them. A significant outcome from the research was it demonstrated to key stakeholders, including the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Public Health Agency that energy efficiency measures delivered alongside a managed network of support can assist fuel poor households and deliver improvements in health and wellbeing.