Housing Minister Margaret Ritchie has responded to calls from a Sinn Fein MLA to remove the 'uneconomical' Economy 7 heating system from thousands of Northern Ireland social houses.

MLA Paul Butler blasted the current usage of the heating system, following a meeting with Housing Executive boss Paddy McIntyre, earlier this week.

Mr Butler said: "Economy 7 is still used by over 11,000 Housing Executive tenants."

Economy 7 heating requires the use of electricity, which has seen staggering cost increases in recent months.

Describing fuel poverty in the province as an 'epidemic', Mr Butler said: "Many people will simply not be able to heat their homes given the huge increases in electricity prices.

"For many tenants with this heating system the choice will be to eat or heat given the cost of electricity.

"Despite the fact that it is regarded as uneconomical and costly to run by the Housing Executive there are no plans to remove the heating system," he said

The Sinn Fein MLA called for Minister Ritchie to step in and remove 'outdated' system.

However, Ms Ritchie today rejected the calls, saying the system has been replaced where gas or oil is a "technically practical option", adding 458 changes are already scheduled to take place.

A Department of Social Development spokesperson told 4ni: "The recent rises in costs across all fuel types are impacting on householders across Northern Ireland.

"The Housing Executive has been replacing Economy 7 heating where gas or oil is a technically practical option and has succeeded in reducing the number of homes heated by Economy 7 from a peak of 26,000 to the current level of around 11,000.

"As part of the overall heating replacement programme this year, the Housing Executive plans to replace Economy 7 in 458 homes," added the official.

(PR/JM)