South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has urged the Minister for Social Development to introduce and implement a new energy programme following the ending of the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme (NISEP) in 2016.
Ms Ritchie said:  ‘This programme currently brings in £7.9 million to deliver energy efficiency improvements, 80% of which is targeted at fuel poor households. There is no other programme intended to succeed or replace the NISEP and therefore this money will be removed from fuel poverty interventions.
“I intend to raise this issue at Westminster as it is imperative to continue the benefits this programme brings to the local community, particularly those in fuel poor households. I will pursue this issue to ensure these benefits are not lost.”
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