Debate contribution: Domestic Electricity Support
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 19 May 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Domestic Electricity Support
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5549476
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member for his question. I completely agree that the way to reduce your energy bills is to reduce the amount of energy that you use. Over the past couple of years, we have supported the NI sustainable energy programme, which is targeted towards lower-income households. To date, that has helped over 2,500 people to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their energy bills. The Member will also know that tackling fuel poverty and domestic energy efficiency is a cross-cutting issue between my Department and the Department for Communities. We lead specifically on heat policy and are in the process of developing a domestic energy efficiency and low-carbon heat programme to replace the sustainable energy programme. The scheme design is at its final stage and will be published in the coming weeks. Work will then be progressed with a consultation to seek input and feedback on the options around future financial support. Since the British Government published their warm homes plan a number of weeks ago, it has become evident that the use of financial transactions capital funding for low-interest loans will form part of that future policy, and we will be keen to explore how we can support that work. Obviously, we have to do that on a cross-departmental basis. My officials will continue working with DESNZ colleagues to make sure that we avail ourselves of any imminent support — the Member will be aware of GB Energy and the support that is expected to flow there — as much as possible.
255 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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