East Belfast DUP MLA Lord Browne has welcomed the Assembly’s unanimous support for a DUP motion, calling for the introduction of a Boiler Scrappage Scheme to Northern Ireland. Speaking today, Lord Browne said:
“I believe the real success of a boiler scrappage scheme will lay in the improvements it brings to the quality of life for Northern Ireland’s pensioners.
Pensioners, living on a fixed income, have been hit particularly hard by the increase in fuel prices over the past number of years, and most of the additional money they receive through the Winter fuel payments has been wasted because their boilers are old and inefficient.
However, before a Boiler Scrappage Scheme can be introduced, we have to make sure that there are enough local firms and tradesmen available to install these new boilers. And unfortunately, particularly when it comes to Gas boilers, there is a deficit of qualified and registered engineers capable of installing them.
The small number of engineers who are currently registered to fit boilers is simply not adequate to meet the demand that will come from home owners wanting to take advantage of the scheme. The number of registered engineers must be increased if the Scrappage Scheme is to be a success.”
