Belfast, 17 April 2026 – Northern Ireland Public Sector Alliance (NIPSA) has today acknowledged the Northern Ireland Executive’s agreement of a £36.4 million support package for home‑heating oil users, recognising that it reflects the seriousness of the fuel cost crisis facing households.
Patrick Mulholland, Deputy General Secretary of NIPSA, said:
“The Executive’s recognition that rising fuel costs require emergency intervention is welcome, but this crisis does not stop at the front door of people’s homes.
Workers across Northern Ireland are facing escalating costs simply to get to work or carry out their duties, and far too many are absorbing those costs themselves. Meaningful support must extend beyond domestic heating and reach everyone who has no choice but to rely on fuel to work.”
Maria Morgan, Deputy General Secretary of NIPSA, added:
“This announcement underlines just how severe the fuel crisis has become, but it also highlights the gaps that remain.
Support needs to be properly funded, sustained and accessible to working households, rather than isolated or one‑off measures.”
NIPSA has reiterated its calls for the Executive to put in place comprehensive, funded measures to ensure workers are not unfairly penalised by rising fuel and travel costs and will continue to press for urgent, practical action to protect workers during the ongoing cost‑of‑living crisis.
ENDS
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