SDLP Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin
She was speaking after successfully tabling an amendment to the Energy Market motion in the Assembly on Tuesday.
The amendment called on the Minister for the Economy to work with the Minister for Communities to agree a large-scale social housing retrofit programme to reduce domestic fossil fuel consumption and increase energy efficiency, starting with communities in the highest disadvantage, and to make a statement to the Assembly on the progress of this programme within six months.
Said the Foyle MLA: “Throughout the cost-of-living emergency, we have seen how devastating price rises in the costs of energy have forced more and more people across all of our communities into poverty.
“This motion was an important opportunity to discuss changes to energy policy, including in transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energies to combat the climate emergency while bringing costs down for consumers.
“However, if we do not accelerate our retrofitting agenda, we will never make the kind of progress that is needed on this energy strategy.
“If heat is being allowed to escape through the windows and doors of inefficient properties, then consumers will continue to be forced to spend absurd amounts on energy and our ability to reach net zero targets that the Assembly agreed in 2022 will be critically undermined.
“I have personally lost count of the constituents that I have visited whose properties are leaking energy through the political failure to build the homes of the future.
“Moreover, cold and draughty homes are causing illness, placing a totally unsustainable burden on our NHS.
“We were all concerned last week when evidence presented at the Committee for Communities revealed the pitifully small number of houses that will be built over the coming year.
“We aren’t building enough homes full stop, but even the homes we are building aren’t fit for the future.
“The Executive needs to step up to the mark on this issue.
“I am pleased the Assembly backed my call for a large-scale housing retrofit programme to be put in place and for the Minister for the Economy to make a statement on the progress of this commitment within six months.
“This is an ambitious step, but it is crucial if we are to reduce domestic fossil fuel consumption and increase energy efficiency, particularly in communities of highest disadvantage.
“This programme will also create a new generation of green jobs with the skills that are needed for the future, representing a huge economic opportunity as well as a moral responsibility and I look forward to holding the Minister to account on delivering this important work.”
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