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.

A review of how the NICE Guideline NG6 is delivering warm and safe homes, and what more can be done for vulnerable and terminally ill people.

Cold, damp and unsafe homes continue to cause shocking levels of unnecessary hardship and premature mortality. Across the UK, NEA estimates that on average more than 10,000 people die each year due to living in a cold home[i]. In England Wales where the proposals within this consultation will apply, excess winter deaths have risen by nearly 20% last winter.

The Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme currently provides a payment of £140 (inclusive of VAT) towards energy bills, and also contains provisions to carry out projects to help low-income and vulnerable households to better afford their energy bill. The scheme was introduced by the Government in April 2011 and is an obligation on energy suppliers funded through bills.