The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is being urged to "reassess its priorities" after it was revealed it spent 79.6% of total operating costs in administration in 2015/16.

There was over £31.6m spent on administration costs compared to £8.1m on programme costs.

Ulster Unionist Environment spokesperson, Harold McKee MLA, said: "The Northern Ireland Environment Agency has the important task of safeguarding much of our local environment and heritage. This is achieved through monitoring and enforcing regulation, designating and managing sites and awareness raising measures.

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"Through an Assembly Question I have been able to able to reveal that the total proportion of operating costs spent on administration has increased from 54% in 2008 when the NIEA was first established, to 65% in 2014/15, reaching its highest ever recorded level of 79.6% in 2015/16.

"Whilst the NIEA of course incur administrative costs, including paying some staff responsible for the benefit of the local environment, I am shocked that so little of its budget is being spent on actual environmental programmes compared to previous years.

"The NIEA needs to reassess its priorities and ensure that as much of its funding – which is primarily provided by the Northern Ireland Executive – is spent to the maximum benefit of the local environment and programmes created to support it."

(CD/MH)