12 April 2026
The Executive must work urgently with the UK Government to deliver a practical plan of support to help households and businesses deal with the energy price crisis, the SDLP Opposition has said.
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP and the party’s Stormont Opposition Leader Matthew O’Toole MLA have today written jointly to the First Ministers and Secretary of State to press for a coordinated plan to help households and businesses impacted in Northern Ireland, including:
• Urgent delivery of a home heating oil support using the £17 million allocated more than a month ago;
• Extension of rural fuel duty relief to rural parts of Northern Ireland;
• Fast tracking the Warm Healthy Homes Fund;
• Exploring targeted reduced public transport fares for those who can find an alternative to the car;
• Targeted support for vulnerable fuel-dependent groups such as community domiciliary care workers
SDLP Leader Claire Hanna MP said:
“Soaring energy costs having been putting a strain on households and businesses. Yet again we have seen Executive parties fail to rise to the moment, offering next to no support at a critical juncture when families look to them for leadership and guidance. The UK Government’s response has also fallen short of what’s expected.
“Today the SDLP is bringing forward a series of practical, deliverable proposals that will provide immediate relief for the public, while also supporting the transition to a more sustainable and secure energy system to ensure we do not end up in a similar position in future. The Executive’s failure to transition up until this point, or even to design systems to target energy support, has left us particularly vulnerable to energy shocks and the public is paying the price.
“At a time of global crisis and great uncertainty, people in Northern Ireland need more than an Executive acting helpless and a UK Government that appears disinterested and disengaged. While we accept there are limits on the Executive’s resources and powers, they aren’t without agency in this”.
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA aid:
“The Executive’s approach to the energy crisis has been complacent and incoherent. The primary focus for the First and deputy First Ministers’ parties appears to be either bickering with one another, or shifting blame to the UK Government. UK Ministers have not helped matters with statements on support which were later dashed.
“The public of Northern Ireland, whether a pensioner worried about filling their oil tank or a small business struggling with a huge increased in input costs, deserve better. The £17 million for a home heating oil support scheme has lain in an Executive bank account for more than a month without a scheme being proposed.
“Our proposals, from urgently delivering such a scheme to extension to rural fuel duty relief to the North to expediting the Warm Healthy Homes scheme are practical and deliverable. We urge the Executive to do more than blame others, but show real leadership. That should start with meeting affected groups. The First Minister’s party has been vocal in calling out the Irish Government for failure to engage with groups affected by the increase in energy costs – she should heed her own party’s advice and meet them herself, along with the deputy First Minister and other Ministers.”