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09/03/2022
Other News In Brief
Latest Fuel Payment Delay 'Unacceptable'
The SDLP have described the latest setback in the roll out of the £200 Energy Support Payment scheme, which was announced in January, as "unacceptable".
The payment, which was due to be made Thursday 9th March, will now be made from Friday 10th March onwards, after the Department for Work and Pensions system experienced a "technical glitch".
Communities spokesperson Mark H Durkan said: "Minister Hargey and her department have had two months to iron out any issues and ensure this payment runs smoothly. It is wholly unacceptable that people who have been waiting in desperation for months for this promised £200 payment, are now being told that it will be made from Friday onwards after the Minister gave assurances that it would be paid Thursday and Friday. There is no guarantee that this technical glitch in the system will be resolved by the end of the week.
"I have repeatedly highlighted the importance of getting this money to people quickly. This should have been sorted out before Christmas and now we are looking at a payment to support people through a difficult winter being issued in spring, with fuel escalating in price on a daily basis.
"It is disgraceful that struggling individuals and their families are seemingly being treated as an afterthought by the Minister. Her lack of urgency on such a critical issue is shameful. The SDLP will continue to fight to extend this payment to all households including those in receipt of legacy benefits, putting people first and giving them the help they desperately need.
"This scheme was announced at the beginning of the year it’s been dangled in front of freezing families for too long. The latest setback is simply not good enough. People deserve better."
DUP Must Explain Why RHI Scheme Has Not Been Closed
Sinn Féin have called on the DUP to explain why they have failed to close the disastrous RHI scheme.
John O'Dowd MLA said: "Contrary to what Edwin Poots today asserted in the Assembly chamber, the science of the burning of wood chips as 'renewable heat' is contested.
"This is one of the reasons Sinn Féin has called for the disastrous RHI scheme to be closed, for genuine participants to be compensated and for Treasury funding for RHI to be put into renewable energy schemes that actually effectively help reduce emissions and support people to transition.
"I am also alarmed by the ignorance shown by Minister Poots in claiming that closing the RHI scheme would result in handing money back to the Treasury.
"Have the DUP learnt nothing?
"Do they not realise that continuing to hand out excessive RHI payments is a waste of public money and this fill your boots mentality poses a risk of significant losses to our block grant, which would threaten the delivery of public services?
"Three successive DUP economy ministers over the past two years have failed to deliver on the New Decade New Approach commitment to close the RHI scheme and have also failed to bring forward any new renewables schemes in their energy strategy."
Shotgun And Ammunition Recovered In Co Tyrone
The PSNI have issued an appeal for information following the discovery of a firearm in Co Tyrone.
According to reports, police recovered a shotgun and a quantity of ammunition in the Windmill Wood area.
The weapon and ammunition was removed for further techical examination.
Anyone with any information about the discovery is asked to contact police.
The SDLP have described the latest setback in the roll out of the £200 Energy Support Payment scheme, which was announced in January, as "unacceptable".
The payment, which was due to be made Thursday 9th March, will now be made from Friday 10th March onwards, after the Department for Work and Pensions system experienced a "technical glitch".
Communities spokesperson Mark H Durkan said: "Minister Hargey and her department have had two months to iron out any issues and ensure this payment runs smoothly. It is wholly unacceptable that people who have been waiting in desperation for months for this promised £200 payment, are now being told that it will be made from Friday onwards after the Minister gave assurances that it would be paid Thursday and Friday. There is no guarantee that this technical glitch in the system will be resolved by the end of the week.
"I have repeatedly highlighted the importance of getting this money to people quickly. This should have been sorted out before Christmas and now we are looking at a payment to support people through a difficult winter being issued in spring, with fuel escalating in price on a daily basis.
"It is disgraceful that struggling individuals and their families are seemingly being treated as an afterthought by the Minister. Her lack of urgency on such a critical issue is shameful. The SDLP will continue to fight to extend this payment to all households including those in receipt of legacy benefits, putting people first and giving them the help they desperately need.
"This scheme was announced at the beginning of the year it’s been dangled in front of freezing families for too long. The latest setback is simply not good enough. People deserve better."
DUP Must Explain Why RHI Scheme Has Not Been Closed
Sinn Féin have called on the DUP to explain why they have failed to close the disastrous RHI scheme.
John O'Dowd MLA said: "Contrary to what Edwin Poots today asserted in the Assembly chamber, the science of the burning of wood chips as 'renewable heat' is contested.
"This is one of the reasons Sinn Féin has called for the disastrous RHI scheme to be closed, for genuine participants to be compensated and for Treasury funding for RHI to be put into renewable energy schemes that actually effectively help reduce emissions and support people to transition.
"I am also alarmed by the ignorance shown by Minister Poots in claiming that closing the RHI scheme would result in handing money back to the Treasury.
"Have the DUP learnt nothing?
"Do they not realise that continuing to hand out excessive RHI payments is a waste of public money and this fill your boots mentality poses a risk of significant losses to our block grant, which would threaten the delivery of public services?
"Three successive DUP economy ministers over the past two years have failed to deliver on the New Decade New Approach commitment to close the RHI scheme and have also failed to bring forward any new renewables schemes in their energy strategy."
Shotgun And Ammunition Recovered In Co Tyrone
The PSNI have issued an appeal for information following the discovery of a firearm in Co Tyrone.
According to reports, police recovered a shotgun and a quantity of ammunition in the Windmill Wood area.
The weapon and ammunition was removed for further techical examination.
Anyone with any information about the discovery is asked to contact police.
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