Arc21: Residual Waste Treatment

Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 5 December 2016.

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Photo of Steve Aiken Steve Aiken UUP 2:30, 5 December 2016

T1. Mr Aiken asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with Arc21 about residual waste treatment. (AQT 596/16-21)

Photo of Michelle McIlveen Michelle McIlveen DUP

I thank the Member for his question, but, since coming into office as Minister, I have not had any discussions.

Photo of Steve Aiken Steve Aiken UUP

I am quite surprised by that, in view of the commitment that the Minister made to the chair of Arc21 in her letter dated 25 July, in which she stated she would recommend to the Northern Ireland Executive that she would consider the provision of financial support to Arc21. Can she, in view of the £1·8 billion cost of the renewable heat incentive scandal, state what discussions she has had with the Finance Minister on how that open-ended commitment to Arc21 can be met —

Photo of Robin Newton Robin Newton Speaker

Mr Aiken, come to a question.

Photo of Steve Aiken Steve Aiken UUP

— and what advice she received? In the spirit of openness and transparency, can she tell us how much it is likely to cost?

Photo of Robin Newton Robin Newton Speaker

Minister, it is for you to answer.

Photo of Michelle McIlveen Michelle McIlveen DUP

I thank the Member for his question. As he will be aware, the Arc21 scheme is with the Public Accounts Committee. The report will then go to the Department for Infrastructure for the Minister to consider. In the event of the project getting a green light, it will require a viable business case. At that stage, my Department will consider making a case to the Executive for financial support to ensure that ratepayers do not incur an unfair financial burden as a result of meeting a Northern Ireland-wide obligation. That is a position that is no different from that taken by Departments in the rest of the UK or, indeed, by the previous Department of the Environment.

As yet, I have not had a conversation with the Finance Minister on that. As I said, a business case still needs to be drawn up, but we are still some way off a decision being made.