NO EXTRA staff were made available to work on RHI despite concerns being raised about shortages, a civil servant has told the public inquiry.
Peter Hutchinson worked at the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for five years, including from when the botched environmental scheme was set up in 2012 until 2014.
Mr Hutchinson, who said he "didn't recall" being given any specific training on energy matters, said he was the staff member who would have been most on top of the details of the Renewable Heat Incentive.
A public inquiry was set up after it emerged the scheme ran massively over budget, with a potential overspend of up to £700m over the next 20 years due to the cost of fuel for heating systems being less than subsidies paid.
The inquiry was told yesterday that by 2012 only two people were working full-time on RHI in the department.
By contrast, the team working on a similar scheme in Britain had 77 staff by 2013.
Donal Lunny, junior counsel for the inquiry, said it was clear that Mr Hutchinson was "undertaking almost every task that appeared to be required" and working evenings and weekends.
Mr Hutchinson had raised the issue of staffing in the project's risk register, citing the complexity of the RHI scheme as a need for immediate extra resources and the shortage as a "critical risk".
Having also spoken to his line manager about his concerns, Mr Hutchinson said: "There are only so many times you can say it."
The civil servant said he believes he only met Arlene Foster, the then DETI minister, twice in his five years working at the department, but added that that level of contact would not have been unusual.
Mr Hutchinson is set to return to give evidence on Friday.
