ELEVEN applicants to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme have had payments suspended pending investigations.
It had been unclear exactly how many payments had been suspended, with the Department for the Economy failing to respond last week to a request for comment on how many of 14 cases suspected of fraud had been halted.
The latest figures were disclosed in response to a written assembly question from SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan.
Economy minister Simon Hamilton said: "Eleven applicants have had payments suspended pending investigation. Investigations are currently ongoing."
The DUP minister has refused to provide a cost for the 14 applications to the RHI scheme, which were understood to have been considered as falling into the most serious category where fraud was suspected.
More than 2,000 people, it is understood, applied to the botched scheme before its closure in February last year, and it is feared it could cost Northern Ireland taxpayers more than £400 million over the next 20 years.
The Assembly's Public Accounts Committee heard that an independent audit found issues at half of 300 sites inspected, with 14 referred for suspected fraud.
Mr Hamilton said last week: "Any potential instances of fraud or abuse of the scheme are being fully investigated. It would therefore be inappropriate to comment further at this time."
