LucidTalk – NEA NI: September 2025 – Northern Ireland (NI) Attitudinal Poll

NEA NI calls for the final Climate Action Plan to integrate efforts to reduce carbon emissions with measures to end fuel poverty.

If you are on a low income, live in the private rented sector or live in an old, cold home (or all three), you now need to prepare for the cold season.

We’ve compiled fact sheets for each of Northern Ireland’s 11 Local Government Districts.

We have four leaflets specifically tailored to Northern Ireland, which provide information and advice on how to keep your home warm and healthy on a budget.

NEA NI believes this draft Anti-Poverty Strategy is not fit for purpose, as it fails to outline the necessary steps to meaningfully address poverty in Northern Ireland.

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 wish to stress again, that fuel poor households cannot end up being disproportionate sponsors of hitting the renewable electricity target. It is imperative that there is a fair distribution of the cost of decarbonisation with those on the lowest incomes protected.

It is our view that increased socialisation of network reinforcement costs could risk vulnerable and low-income households being disadvantaged and placed at a greater risk of fuel poverty.