Ursula Meighan commenting on the announcement that pensioners in Northern Ireland will receive £100 one off payment said any additional help for our elderly and vulnerable citizens is always welcome. The Workers Party is concerned that this payment will only cover a fraction of the costs of the energy needed to adequately heat the homes of pensioners. Some will be living in damp and not properly insulated housing.

Ursula continued that the length of time required for this money to land in the pockets of pensioners is also problematic. March 2025 will seem a long way off when you are struggling to make the decision to heat or eat. I would be concerned that those having to make those decisions will choose to eat. It would seem that we are in for an extremely hard winter, the gritters are out, one energy company has already announced a price increase at the beginning of this month, and I’m sure other providers will follow suit.

Pensioners are particularly susceptible to a whole host of health conditions during the winter months such as hypothermia, respiratory problems, infections and other severe conditions, which require admission to hospital. The pressures upon the health services which is already in crisis due to staff shortages, bed shortages and under funding will be immense.

Ursula concluded this situation could and should have been avoided and I can only hope that this gesture from the Minister will not turnout to be to little to late for some of our most vulnerable older people.