To ask the Minister for Communities to detail how the Anti-Poverty Strategy will address the needs of older people, including (i) fuel poverty; and (ii) the rising cost of living.

I remain committed to developing a sustainable, deliverable Anti-Poverty Strategy, prioritising the issues that make a tangible difference to people’s lives throughout NI, including the needs of older people.

The draft Strategy contains a number of strategic commitments which will help address the needs of older people including -

Lobbying Westminster to maintain the triple lock guarantee in relation to pension payments.

Developing and delivering a Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Providing advice, increasing awareness and providing focused support to ensure that older people can access their full benefit entitlement. (This will include a programme of work to promote Pension Credit uptake and delivery of the Make the Call wraparound service.)

In addition to this the Strategy also contains work which, while not targeted solely towards the needs of older people, will help improve their lives alongside many others across our communities. These include, the development and delivery of a new Safer Communities Strategic Approach, a new People and Place Strategic Framework, and the implementation of the Executive Housing Supply and Disability Strategies.

While the Department for Communities is leading on the Anti-Poverty Strategy, it remains an Executive Strategy. My officials are currently analysing and considering all responses received throughout the public consultation process. I will share the outcome of this analysis with my Executive colleagues and we will take forward any further development as appropriate before finalising the Strategy.