SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin has called for a central helpline for queries related to the £600 energy suppot scheme.
And she has called on the energy companies to ensure that they take a uniform approach on the distribution of the funds and provide clear and consistent communication.
Said Ms McLaughlin said: “My office has received a stream of enquiries in relation to this payment and it seems that there is a range of conflicting answers depending on the supplier or source of information.
“Families sitting in freezing homes are eagerly waiting for the funds that have been promised to give some relief in these very difficult conditions.
“Yet despite the long wait that consumers have endured for the scheme, it seems there are still significant questions yet to answer about how this scheme will operate effectively.
“As with all schemes like this, it will require careful leadership and consistent, clear communication for it to be successful.
“The last thing people need is confusion about how to access this support.
“It is clear to me that there should be a central helpline for customers to deal with queries as the customer service helplines for each company will quickly become overwhelmed with the volume of queries.
“I have written to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to ask whether a helpline will be set up and what support they are giving to the energy companies in order to get this support out as quickly as possible.
“I have also asked what help they have requested from the Department for the Economy with the distribution of these funds.
“I know that our Party Leader Colum Eastwood MP is working hard to raise these issues in London with the relevant Departments of State.
“However, it is deeply shameful that we do not have an Executive or even Assembly up at Stormont to raise these concerns.
“If an Assembly was functioning, we could ask questions to Ministers or table motions and work together to find solutions.
“This is just another reason to add to the long list of reasons why the DUP should get back to work.”
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