PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT – PRESS STATEMENT

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SDLP MLA BURNS: HOUSEHOLDS FACING FINANCIAL STRUGGLE OVER GAS PRICES
 

SDLP South Antrim MLA Thomas Burns has expressed his concern about the speculated rise in gas prices. 

Mr Burns stated, “Many older people use gas as their main source for heating and powering their homes. Talk of a price hike of up to 30% doesn’t bear thinking about. People are already being hit hard by household bills and many older people will simply not be able to afford any further increases in gas or oil.

“Fuel poverty is a growing problem across the north of Ireland and with the rising global prices of gas and fuel the whole situation is going to become very bleak for the elderly, people on low incomes, young families and single parent households. It is a very worrying situation and I share the fears that are being felt on the ground. People are asking ‘when are these rises going to stop?’ and are wondering how they are going to cope.

“The Assembly needs to look at this situation seriously to see what steps can be taken to reduce the impact of what is happening in world markets on local people because really many households are facing financial crisis and really don’t know where to turn.”

ENDS