DUP leader Gavin Robinson has accused other parties in the Northern Ireland power-sharing Executive of making the cost-of-living crisis worse for struggling families.

Robinson stated that Sinn Féin, Alliance and Ulster Unionist parties engage in gesture politics by supporting proposals without resolving financial consequences.

The Executive met this week and announced a support package for households using home heating oil. Ministers committed £19.2 million alongside £17 million from the UK government.

The scheme provides a £100 payment to up to 340,000 lower-income households for heating oil bills. Robinson credited DUP Communities Minister Gordon Lyons for this delivery.

Robinson highlighted the Holiday Hunger Bill, which passed its second stage at the Northern Ireland Assembly. The bill supports children receiving free school meals with payments during holidays.

He noted the bill carries a cost of over £20 million this year, rising to more than £30 million annually, with no identified funding source.

Robinson said the funding would come from the education budget, leading to fewer classroom resources, reduced support for children with special needs and cuts to frontline services.

He criticised the same parties for backing net zero emissions targets without addressing financial impacts, stating that families, farmers and small businesses would bear the costs.