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04/03/2022
Other News In Brief
Rising Fuel Costs Will Hammer Households – SDLP
Rising fuel and energy costs will hammer households struggling to make ends meet as the Utility Regulator announced an increase in SSE Airtricity gas prices in the Belfast and western distribution areas.
SDLP Deputy Leader Nichola Mallon has written to Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey proposing an extension to the £200 energy payment support scheme to all bill payers in Northern Ireland.
Nichola Mallon MLA said: "Hard working families are being hammered again and again by a series of sky high price increases. Energy bills, fuel bills and food bills keep going up but people and households across our communities just cannot catch a break.
"Last year the SDLP proposed a series of measures that would mitigate the impact of this crisis on homes across the North but to date there has been very little action. Today we are seeing further increases to gas prices in the greater Belfast and western distribution areas that will punish people least able to bear the burden right now.
"I have written to the Communities Minister today seeking support for a proposal to extend the £200 energy payment support scheme to all bill payers across the North. There is an urgent need to act now to support all families who are in severe financial difficulty, those in receipt of social security and those on low incomes who are not.
"We have an obligation to pursue every path available to support people who are being hit by this crisis. In the absence of an Executive, it is clearly more difficult to take the action necessary to safeguard people and families in need. That is why I have also suggested that opportunities to provide resource through alternative schemes such as the Bryson emergency fuel payment scheme should be pursued. We must be relentless in our approach to this crisis.
"There are clear ways that we could act to support people and families across our communities. We need to a people first approach from Ministers and we need to see it now."
DUP Must Close 'Disastrous' Renewable Heat Incentive – SF
Sinn Féin have called on DUP economy minister Gordon Lyons to take responsibility and close the 'disastrous' Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme which is still handing out payments.
Making the call, Upper Bann MLA John O'Dowd said: "The DUP economy minister needs to end the delay and close the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme immediately.
"Closing this scheme is a commitment within New Decade, New Approach, and closure was endorsed by the Executive over a year ago. However, the DUP has attempted to stall closure by failing to bring forward proposals to close the scheme. Incredibly it has instead proposed an increase in tariffs.
"Now the DUP has walked out of the Executive and the continuation of the scheme creates the risk of leaving a multi-million pound hole in the Budget. This would have serious implications for public services including health and education.
"The DUP's reckless actions are hurting ordinary people and putting millions of pounds at risk. They should get back to work, close the RHI scheme and protect the public finances."
PEACE IV And Extern Celebrates Initiative Success
Social justice charity Extern has celebrated the success of its initiative with Belfast PEACE IV, which tackled sectarianism is celebrating success - supporting dozens of young people and challenging attitudes and prejudices.
The On the Right Track! Personal Change Programme, is part of Council's PEACE IV programme, and works with marginalised young people between 13 and 16 years old.
The project, which is formally concluding its activities following three years of success, operates on a cross-community basis to explore issues of equality, identity, diversity and peacebuilding. In particular, it focuses on young people who have been involved in the youth justice system for incidents related to sectarianism, interface issues and hate crime.
Launched in 2019, the main aim of the programme has been to provide support to change the behaviours of the young people taking part by exploring and challenging the underlying and fundamental values that they hold.
Key achievements from the programme include:
• 42 young people who have completed the programme
• Over 11,600 hours of direct delivery to young participants
• Almost 380 OCN qualifications completed by young people on a range of topics.
The project is part of the Council's PEACE IV Plan, which is financed through the European Union and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The programme was commissioned and funded by Belfast PEACE IV and has been based at Extern's Nelson Street offices close to the centre of Belfast.
A special ceremony to mark the formal conclusion of the project was held at The MAC Belfast, where young 'graduates' were presented with special certificates of achievement by Councillor John Kyle, Chair of Council's Shared City Partnership.
Councillor Kyle said: "I want to pay tribute to the young people who participated in the On the Right Track! Personal Change Programme, as part of our important PEACE IV work with children and young people. On completion, many have forged special friendships with others from different communities and cultures in the city and some are now young leaders in their youth clubs.
"There were over 265 hours dedicated to peacebuilding and the building up of strong cross-community relations. Through the programme, the young people looked at personal identity and cultural identity among other areas taking part in joint sports sessions and residentials. They also showed resilience attending sessions virtually during the pandemic when dealing with many issues faced by young people at the time including social isolation.
"This inspiring programme is in keeping with our Belfast Agenda vision too reflecting that young people are very much part of our city's future."
CEO of Extern, Danny McQuillan, said: "Since its launch, the On the Right Track! project has had a positive and transformative impact on the lives of dozens of young people who have taken part. Not only have they learned valuable new skills and earned qualifications, they have also developed a much greater understanding of other cultures and communities.
"We are so proud of everything these young people have achieved through this fantastic, life-changing programme over the past three years. That many of them managed to do so against the backdrop of the recent Covid pandemic and its many restrictions speaks to their dedication and hard work.
"We would like to thank everyone who has contributed towards making this project such a success, including our partners in Belfast City Council's PEACE IV team, the Special EU Programmes Body, our match funders and, most especially, the young people themselves."
Match-funding for the PEACE IV Action plan has been provided by The Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.
Rising fuel and energy costs will hammer households struggling to make ends meet as the Utility Regulator announced an increase in SSE Airtricity gas prices in the Belfast and western distribution areas.
SDLP Deputy Leader Nichola Mallon has written to Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey proposing an extension to the £200 energy payment support scheme to all bill payers in Northern Ireland.
Nichola Mallon MLA said: "Hard working families are being hammered again and again by a series of sky high price increases. Energy bills, fuel bills and food bills keep going up but people and households across our communities just cannot catch a break.
"Last year the SDLP proposed a series of measures that would mitigate the impact of this crisis on homes across the North but to date there has been very little action. Today we are seeing further increases to gas prices in the greater Belfast and western distribution areas that will punish people least able to bear the burden right now.
"I have written to the Communities Minister today seeking support for a proposal to extend the £200 energy payment support scheme to all bill payers across the North. There is an urgent need to act now to support all families who are in severe financial difficulty, those in receipt of social security and those on low incomes who are not.
"We have an obligation to pursue every path available to support people who are being hit by this crisis. In the absence of an Executive, it is clearly more difficult to take the action necessary to safeguard people and families in need. That is why I have also suggested that opportunities to provide resource through alternative schemes such as the Bryson emergency fuel payment scheme should be pursued. We must be relentless in our approach to this crisis.
"There are clear ways that we could act to support people and families across our communities. We need to a people first approach from Ministers and we need to see it now."
DUP Must Close 'Disastrous' Renewable Heat Incentive – SF
Sinn Féin have called on DUP economy minister Gordon Lyons to take responsibility and close the 'disastrous' Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme which is still handing out payments.
Making the call, Upper Bann MLA John O'Dowd said: "The DUP economy minister needs to end the delay and close the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme immediately.
"Closing this scheme is a commitment within New Decade, New Approach, and closure was endorsed by the Executive over a year ago. However, the DUP has attempted to stall closure by failing to bring forward proposals to close the scheme. Incredibly it has instead proposed an increase in tariffs.
"Now the DUP has walked out of the Executive and the continuation of the scheme creates the risk of leaving a multi-million pound hole in the Budget. This would have serious implications for public services including health and education.
"The DUP's reckless actions are hurting ordinary people and putting millions of pounds at risk. They should get back to work, close the RHI scheme and protect the public finances."
PEACE IV And Extern Celebrates Initiative Success
Social justice charity Extern has celebrated the success of its initiative with Belfast PEACE IV, which tackled sectarianism is celebrating success - supporting dozens of young people and challenging attitudes and prejudices.
The On the Right Track! Personal Change Programme, is part of Council's PEACE IV programme, and works with marginalised young people between 13 and 16 years old.
The project, which is formally concluding its activities following three years of success, operates on a cross-community basis to explore issues of equality, identity, diversity and peacebuilding. In particular, it focuses on young people who have been involved in the youth justice system for incidents related to sectarianism, interface issues and hate crime.
Launched in 2019, the main aim of the programme has been to provide support to change the behaviours of the young people taking part by exploring and challenging the underlying and fundamental values that they hold.
Key achievements from the programme include:
• 42 young people who have completed the programme
• Over 11,600 hours of direct delivery to young participants
• Almost 380 OCN qualifications completed by young people on a range of topics.
The project is part of the Council's PEACE IV Plan, which is financed through the European Union and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). The programme was commissioned and funded by Belfast PEACE IV and has been based at Extern's Nelson Street offices close to the centre of Belfast.
A special ceremony to mark the formal conclusion of the project was held at The MAC Belfast, where young 'graduates' were presented with special certificates of achievement by Councillor John Kyle, Chair of Council's Shared City Partnership.
Councillor Kyle said: "I want to pay tribute to the young people who participated in the On the Right Track! Personal Change Programme, as part of our important PEACE IV work with children and young people. On completion, many have forged special friendships with others from different communities and cultures in the city and some are now young leaders in their youth clubs.
"There were over 265 hours dedicated to peacebuilding and the building up of strong cross-community relations. Through the programme, the young people looked at personal identity and cultural identity among other areas taking part in joint sports sessions and residentials. They also showed resilience attending sessions virtually during the pandemic when dealing with many issues faced by young people at the time including social isolation.
"This inspiring programme is in keeping with our Belfast Agenda vision too reflecting that young people are very much part of our city's future."
CEO of Extern, Danny McQuillan, said: "Since its launch, the On the Right Track! project has had a positive and transformative impact on the lives of dozens of young people who have taken part. Not only have they learned valuable new skills and earned qualifications, they have also developed a much greater understanding of other cultures and communities.
"We are so proud of everything these young people have achieved through this fantastic, life-changing programme over the past three years. That many of them managed to do so against the backdrop of the recent Covid pandemic and its many restrictions speaks to their dedication and hard work.
"We would like to thank everyone who has contributed towards making this project such a success, including our partners in Belfast City Council's PEACE IV team, the Special EU Programmes Body, our match funders and, most especially, the young people themselves."
Match-funding for the PEACE IV Action plan has been provided by The Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
