The latest Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) figures, published in the Irish News, need a fast track audit to be implemented before the election in March, according to the Ulster Unionists.

The RHI scheme is set to cost the public purse around £490 million.

South Antrim Ulster Unionist Assembly candidate Steve Aiken said he is "shocked" at the recent figures.

He said: "This latest revelation in the RHI scandal has again shown how open to abuse the original RHI scheme set up by the DUP Department was. The question now is, how long has Simon Hamilton and previous Ministers been receiving weekly updates from Ofgem and what have they done in light of those figures?

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"The Executive has been in full possession of the RHI facts for some time and seem to have done relatively little to prevent potential abuse of the scheme. The fact that only 23 boilers were inspected up to the start of 2016 indicates a disturbing level of inertia in the Department.

"RHI payouts have already cost the public approximately £68 million so far with this expected to rise to over £1.1 billion, unless a permanent, legally sound mitigation plan is implemented by the Department for the Economy."

(CD/MH)