The Minister for Social Development, Mr Maurice Morrow, has defended a campaign he announced earlier yesterday aimed at tackling the lack of heating in 170,000 homes.
Under the "Warm Homes" scheme, pensioners will be entitled to £2,000 grants to install insulation and central heating if they are on certain income-related benefits, while £750 grants will be available for roof and cavity-wall insulation for low-income and disabled householders.
In the Assembly, Sinn Fein criticised the scheme, saying it would add to financial pressures on pensioners.
A party MLA, Ms Michelle Gildernew, insisted many people entitled to the £2,000 grants would end up "putting their hands into their own pockets to make up the difference towards the real cost" of installation.
"The Minister also congratulates Northern Ireland Electricity for contributing £600,000 towards the costs of the scheme. What he fails to mention is that this money comes directly from the Energy Efficiency Levy that every household already pays to NIE," she added. Mr Morrow said the scheme was a "positive and robust response" to heating houses and accused Ms Gildernew of ignoring the flexibility of the scheme. Its implementation would be closely monitored and evaluated by his Department, he added.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister, Ms Bairbre de Brun, has announced that nicotine replacement therapies will be available on the National Health Service. Statistics had proved that 75 per cent of smokers would like to give up, Ms de Brun said. "Nicotine Replacement Therapy is a cost-effective treatment that doubles the chance of success of smokers wishing to stop.
" It is not a magic cure but will help with the cravings and withdrawal symptoms following cessation. Making it available on prescription will ensure the widest possible availability of the therapies to all smokers."
In other business, the Environment Minister, Mr Sam Foster, announced a £57 million initiative to update the North's MOT centres.
Both Sinn Fein and the DUP voiced criticism of the way in which around £360 million of the EU's PEACE II programme will be distributed. The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, said the failure of victims of IRA bombings to secure funding was in stark contrast to the money awarded to Irish cultural activities.