To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on the roll-out of the recently announced home heating oil support scheme.

I remain firmly committed to providing practical assistance to those most at risk of fuel poverty.

The £36.4 million I secured will support delivery of an application based Home Heating Oil Support scheme.

Assistance of £100 for home heating oil will be offered to over 340,000 households across Northern Ireland. This covers a range of vulnerable groups, including those with disabilities, older people and those on a low income. For households, lowincome is defined as annual income below £30,000 after deductions, such as National Insurance, income tax, and pension contributions.

Any such scheme which seeks to direct assistance towards over 340,000 homes naturally brings complexities. As the scheme goes beyond benefits and recognises that many working families struggle with heating costs, it will take time to get the appropriate infrastructure in place.

This reflects the need to develop a new IT system to handle applications, alongside the time required to design the policy, draft legislation and put in place contractual arrangements, and establish key processes—such as fraud prevention measures, staff guidance, and training.

My officials are continuing to work at pace to deliver the necessary arrangements required for the Home Heating Oil Support Scheme, recognising the urgency of the legislation and the need to secure approval ahead of the summer recess.

My officials will shortly be briefing the Communities Committee on the scheme policy.