Around 300,000 households in Northern Ireland cannot afford to heat their homes.
42% of the population of Northern Ireland are affected by fuel poverty compared with only 15% in England.
We must engage with and incentivise people to insulate and heat their homes in the best possible way.
I propose ring-fencing a proportion of the Financial Transactions Capital available to the Executive to help tackle fuel poverty.
The gas network in Northern Ireland should be extended to stretch beyond the Greater Belfast and ‘Ten Towns’ areas.
The North-South electricity inter-connector must be delivered within the next five years. Completion will not only drive lower prices for consumers but also provide additional power generating capacity.