18/01/2022

Bryson Chief Raises Concerns Over Capacity Of Fuel Scheme

The Chief Executive of Bryson Charitable Group has said that is has been "impossible" to keep up with demand for the Executive's emergency fuel payment scheme.

The scheme launched last week and head of the charity running the scheme, Shane Logan, has said that the number of people applying and "exceeded the number it can help".

Speaking to BBC's Good Morning Ulster, Mr Logan said that "roughly 280,000 or 300,000 people" have been trying to access the scheme and the Group is only able to process around 330 applications per day, adding that it was "impossible for us to deal with hundreds and thousands above capacity".

While he described the payment scheme as "excellent" he said that it was "never intended to be other than for those who are right at the edge, who have run out or are about to run out of fuel and whose income is below a very low threshold".

Launched on 06 January, Mr Logan said that between 1,500 and 1,800 people have been helped to date.

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