Help The Aged Challenges Department Of Social Development To Do More To Tackle Fuel Poverty, UK

September 22, 2007 – 11:09 am | posted in Seniors / Aging

Responding to the recent Assembly debate on fuel poverty when the Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced that her department would shortly publish results of research that shows that there has been a substantial decline in temperature-related deaths in recent years, Mr Duane Farrell, Head of Policy, Research and Communications, said:

‘While the charity welcomes the findings of this research, we believe it falls short of what is really required to fully understand and address fuel poverty and its link to excess winter deaths. Detailed research could identify if and where the link between fuel poverty and excess winter deaths exists, information that is essential for policy makers to fully understand the impact of fuel poverty and its potentially devastating effects. The charity will continue to call on the Department to undertake focused research into the factors contributing to excess winter deaths among older people.’

Mr Duane Farrell went on to say: ‘The Department set a target to erardicate fuel poverty amongst vulnerable households by 2010 (1). We are concerned that this target will not be met. The startling fact is that one in two pensioner households remain in fuel poverty (2) and NISRA (3) figures demonstrate that the excess winter death figure in Northern Ireland increased by a staggering 65 per cent, from 293 in 2004/5 to 449 in 2005/6 (4).

‘In addition to the need for further research, the charity would also call on the Minister to continue to place pressure on Westminister to increase the Winter Fuel Payment. Whilst Northern Ireland has seen a sharp rise in fuel prices, this has not been met by a corresponding increase in the Winter Fuel Payment. This is a fact that the government cannot afford to ignore if it is to meet its target on fuel poverty amongst vulnerable households.’

1. ‘Ending Fuel Poverty: A Strategy for Northern Ireland’ Department of Social Development’, November 2004

2. The Northern Ireland Fuel Poverty Advisory Group’s First Annual Report

3. Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) is an Executive Agency within the Department of Finance and Personnel. NISRA is the principal source of official information on Northern Ireland´s population and socio-economic conditions.

4. The excess winter deaths figure in Northern Ireland is calculated by NISRA and looks at deaths in the winter months (Dec-March) compared to the four months previous and subsequent amongst people aged over 65 years old

http://www.helptheaged.org.uk

ShareThis

Also Read

  • Nutrition Action Plan Is Good News, Says Help The Aged, UK
  • Malnutrition Screening Is Long Overdue, Says Help The Aged, UK
  • People Urged To Protect Themselves During The Coldest Part Of The Year, UK
  • Older People Are Human Beings - Not Objects Or Numbers, Says Help The Aged, UK
  • Older People Face Daily Barrage Of Age Discrimination, Says Help The Aged, UK
  • Over 200 Million Children Under 5 Failing To Reach Their Potential In Cognitive Development
  • Osteoporosis Screening Is Absolutely Essential, Says Help The Aged
  • Unless We Tackle AIDS, Many Countries Will Not Meet The Millennium Development Goals
  • Migrant Workers, Poverty Fueling HIV In Densely Populated Indian State, Health Officials Say
  • Journals Collaborate To Increase Awareness Of Worldwide Problems Of Poverty And Human Development

    • You must be logged in to post a comment.