Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme mistakes must never be repeated, says Committee

The Assembly’s Committee for the Economy calls for the clear failures highlighted by the Audit Office report into the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme to be urgently addressed.  The highly critical Audit Office report indicated that there could be considerable cost to the taxpayer following serious systematic failings in the Scheme. 

Responding to the Audit Office report, Chairperson of the Economy Committee, Mr Conor Murphy MLA, said: “The Committee was deeply shocked to learn the extent of the mistakes and failings that have been made in regard to the Scheme, particularly in terms of cost control and monitoring. 

“The Committee welcomes Minister Hamilton’s promise that external consultants will undertake thorough inspections of all biomass boilers installed through the Scheme to ensure they conform to its intentions and rules.  The Committee will continue to monitor this situation carefully.”

Deputy Chairperson of the Committee, Mr Steve Aiken MLA, commented: “The Audit Office report on the Scheme highlights a litany of maladministration. It is hard to believe that so many opportunities to correct the failings of the Scheme were missed. We need to examine how and why these serious errors were allowed to happen and it is crucial that we find ways of limiting the cost to the taxpayer.”

Conor Murphy MLA concluded: “The Public Accounts Committee is set to launch an Inquiry, into the findings contained in the Audit Office’s report, in the Autumn.  The Economy Committee will follow PAC’s Inquiry with interest, and will seek the implementation of all recommendations.”

ENDS

Committee Membership:

Mr Conor Murphy MLA (Chairperson)

Mr Steve Aiken OBE MLA (Deputy Chairperson)

Mr Mervyn Storey MLA

Mr Gordon Dunne MBE MLA

Mr Gordon Lyons MLA

Mr Tom Buchanan MLA

Mr Alex Maskey MLA

Ms Caoimhe Archibald MLA

Mr Alan Chambers MLA

Ms Sinead Bradley MLA

Dr Stephen Farry MLA