AQW 8648/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 13/10/2020
Answered On Date: 13/11/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy how she will ensure that recommendations made by the Northern Ireland Audit Office in regards to the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation scheme are incorporated into any future energy schemes.

Answer:

The need for future energy support schemes is being considered as part of the development process for the new Energy Strategy, and no decisions have yet been made on these.

However, I have accepted the recommendations that relate directly to my Department and my officials will ensure that they are taken into account once such decisions are made.

In particular, with relation to recommendation 1, the Energy Strategy has already put in place partnership arrangements through the establishment of a Government Stakeholders Group and the significant involvement of other departments on the five working groups.

The Power Working Group, which is most relevant for the NIAO report, includes officials from the Department for Infrastructure and Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to ensure a joined-up approach from the outset when considering the need for any such new schemes.