MUCH of the money made by NI Water from licensing land at Woodburn Forest in Co Antrim for a controversial oil drilling project has gone towards a £20,000 legal bill.
Oil company Infrastrata began drilling an exploratory borehole on the land in Carrickfergus back in May amid significant public opposition.
Protesters said they feared the work posed a threat to drinking water for homes in Belfast and Carrickfergus, a claim rejected by NI Water.
InfraStrata abandoned work at the site in June after finding no oil
NI Water initially leased the land to Infrastrata in a deal worth £32,800 per annum.
This was payable, pro rata, from February 8 until December 27 2016, giving a figure of £29,096.77.
But the figures, released by Minister for Infrastructure Chris Hazzard following an assembly question from UUP assembly member Roy Beggs also confirm that NI Water has incurred costs of £25,585.86 in relation to Woodburn.
This was broken down into staff costs of just under £2,000, analytical costs and contractor costs, but by far the most significant spend was on a legal bill of £20,986.50.
The answer does not explain the legal costs.
Mr Beggs said the figures confirmed the "foolish decision" by NI Water to agree to lease out an area of reservoir catchment for drilling.
"It seems their costs are of a similar level to the income, but not only that there was a considerable risk factor in all of this and potentially disruption to the public water supply," he said.
Infastrata have now left the site, which has been largely returned to normal.
However, Mr Beggs claimed that further costs associated with Woodburn could hit the public purse.
"Trees were cut down at the site and where do they appear? Does that bill go to the NI Forest Service?"
Charges against four protesters arrested at the Co Antrim drill site have since been dropped.
James Orr, Northern Ireland director of Friends of the Earth, and three others were told that the Public Prosecution service had decided not to proceed with the case.
They had faced charges including trespass and obstruction of police. A fifth case is still with the courts.
Meanwhile, Mid and East Antrim Council is facing a legal challenge around some of the permissions it granted the oil company. The case had been due to start last week, but was postponed.
