To ask the Minister for Communities to detail (i) the number of households in rural areas that remain dependent on home heating oil; and (ii) any targeted assistance being considered for them.

The most recent Northern Ireland House Condition Survey states that 84% of homes in rural areas are reliant on home heating oil as the predominant fuel source.

The work on finalising the Fuel Poverty Strategy is considering the needs of those experiencing fuel poverty, including households in rural areas and those reliant on home heating oil.

The Affordable Warmth Scheme is the Department’s energy efficiency scheme for owner occupiers and those in the private rented sector, including rural areas. It provides a range of energy efficiency improvement measures for low-income households including cavity and loft insulation as well as new and replacement heating systems and windows where appropriate.

Work is also underway on developing a new Warm Healthy Homes Scheme that will replace the Affordable Warmth Scheme when it ends. It will provide support to low-income households experiencing fuel poverty, offering a range of measures including insulation, low carbon heating solutions and renewable technologies. The Scheme will be open to applications from all households that meet the eligibility criteria including those in rural properties that remain dependent reliant on oil heating.