Opinion

RHI report highlights serious concerns

The publication of the latest audit report on the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme, a day after the failure of talks aimed at restoring the executive, provides a timely reminder of one of the main reasons why power-sharing collapsed in the first place.

It was the report by the Northern Ireland Audit Office in July last year that highlighted problems with the scheme, including the crucial failure to introduce controls on payments similar to those already in place in Britain and the significant costs faced by the Northern Ireland taxpayer.

The auditor general, Kieran Donnelly, also warned that returns available to claimants ''appear to be excessive and are committed to for the next 20 years''.

As we know, these initial concerns snowballed over the autumn period into a full blown political crisis which eventually precipitated the fall of the Stormont structures with questions raised over the role played by DUP leader Arlene Foster who was the minister in charge during the introduction of the flawed scheme.

Many questions remain unanswered and it is far from clear just how long it will take the public inquiry to uncover the full story.

In the meantime, the latest audit office report provides an update on the RHI scheme, revealing that ten boilers ran virtually around the clock last year, earning subsidies of at least £50,000 per machine.

These were installed before November 2015 when the scheme was modified to bring down costs and the report has noted that boilers enrolled after this date are used considerably less than those operating beforehand.

The economy department estimates the cost of the scheme will fall by around £30 million next year which is at least a positive development.

However, the serious weaknesses identified by Mr Donnelly show that this is an issue that has not gone away and requires ongoing and rigorous scrutiny.