Employment in the low carbon and renewable energy industry has increased by over 40% between 2015 and 2016, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Sinn Fein MLA Cathal Boylan welcomed the rise and the announcement of an additional 1,500 jobs within the industry, however he called for more to be invested to maximise the environmental and employment benefits.

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He said: "Although I welcome the rise of employment, the reality is that the North is still lagging behind the rest of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales in terms of the number of employees working in the Green Sector and the revenue generated from it.

"There needs be a greater focus on investment and job creation in the Low Carbon and Renewable Energy Industry, this will not only result in job creation but will help push our society forward from being fossil fuel dependant to a low carbon/zero carbon society."

(CD/LM)