Communities Minister must get a grip on fuel crisis support – Lockhart

Carla Lockhart MP • January 23, 2022

Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart has said the increasing frustration among the public at the application process for the Emergency Fuel Payment Scheme must be addressed by the Communities Minister Deidre Hargey MLA, and that her refusal to accept responsibility for the deficiencies in the scheme is failing people in urgent fuel need.

Carla Lockhart said: 


“We are entering a period of settled, cold weather when homes will need heated to keep people warm. 


My office has been inundated with people who find themselves in urgent fuel need. Their oil has run out, or is running out, or they cannot afford to pay for gas. They need this £100 payment now, yet every day they are being told to apply tomorrow because they have been unable to access the application process. That is going to leave some people with no means to heat their home for days. This includes elderly, vulnerable people with chronic health conditions, and those with young children. It is simply not good enough. 


So far, the Minister has passed the buck of responsibility to the scheme administrators, Bryson Charitable Group. That is not good enough. Her Department ultimately signed off on the scheme and would have been consulted on its operation. Currently the application process is not fit for purpose. That application can only be completed online is a huge flaw considering many of those in urgent fuel need being elderly and simply not able to apply online. 


Every day the Minister absolves herself of responsibility for this scheme is a day when someone will go cold unnecessarily. Deidre Hargey needs to intervene here and fix this scheme and help get support to those who urgently need it.”

Share

By Carla Lockhart MP September 28, 2025
Carla Lockhart MP has expressed her deep sadness following the sudden passing of Ian Milne.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 26, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has criticised the UK government for rubber-stamping and implementing EU red tape which is strangling the trade of used farm machinery between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer for recognising Palestine without securing safeguards for hostages, minorities, or assurances that such recognition would promote peace.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has congratulated the staff and volunteers at the USPCA Charity Store in Lurgan after it was named Shop of the Year 2025 at the Charity Retail Awards in London. The store has also been shortlisted for the prestigious title of UK’s Favourite Charity Shop 2025. 
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has praised the organisers of the hugely popular Country Comes to Town event in Portadown, which once again brought thousands of people into the town centre for a day of music, entertainment, and family fun. 
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has presented her “Fix Our Roads” petition directly to the Minister for Infrastructure, calling for urgent action to address the poor state of Northern Ireland’s road network. 
By Carla Lockhart MP September 24, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has congratulated Miss Muriel Mehaffey on reaching the wonderful milestone of her 100th birthday.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 17, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has warned that the unrestricted flow of illegal meat and dairy products into the UK is an existential threat to human and animal health.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 17, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed the suspension of parking charges at Iceland’s Banbridge store, following problems with faulty payment machines that had resulted in shoppers receiving unfair fines.
By Carla Lockhart MP September 17, 2025
Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed progress on the Northern Ireland Football Fund, which has seen four local clubs from Upper Bann move forward to the next stage of the process.