NI Fuel Cost Relief Delayed, £36M Approved

0:00On April 17, Northern Ireland's facing a delay on fuel cost relief, with the new support scheme not rolling out until summer, at the earliest. Stormont's executive just approved 19.2 million pounds for it, on top of 17.2 million pounds from the UK government last month. The plan targets 300,000 low-income families, giving them a 100-pound prepaid card for home-heating oil suppliers. Products on income-based benefits, disability benefits, state pensions, or earning under 30,000 pounds a year can apply. Protests popped off across the region earlier this week, as drivers and families vented frustration over those brutal price hikes. Minister Gordon Lions gets it, he called the rise as huge, and admitted this aid won't cover everything. Lions broke it down on BBC Radio Ulster, saying it'll take at least three months to launch. He pushed the UK government to step up more. Especially on taxes that could help households and struggling businesses too.

1:01He's being straight, it's not enough, and times ticking, but with limited tools, they're pushing what they can as fast as possible to ease the burn.