21 October 2025
SDLP Opposition Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA has said the Audit Office’s findings on the Department for the Economy’s failure to deliver on its Energy Strategy are deeply concerning.
She said it exposes a complete absence of urgency, leadership and accountability in tackling the climate crisis and securing Northern Ireland’s energy future.
The Audit Office report, published today, found that progress against key targets in the Department’s Path to Net Zero Energy strategy is “lagging considerably” - despite £107 million of public expenditure since 2020.
It also identified “significant flaws” in governance, oversight and delivery, including the absence of clear milestones, delayed monitoring and unclear action plans.
Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin said:
"This Audit Office report is an indictment of successive Ministers and the Department for the Economy’s failure to lead on one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Despite more than £100 million of public money spent, the department has failed to deliver meaningful progress on energy savings or renewable generation targets. That is unacceptable, for the public purse, for our climate obligations and for the future of our economy.
"The report exposes a pattern we’ve seen across the department: big promises, glossy strategies and press releases - but very little delivery. Northern Ireland was supposed to be on course for 80% renewable electricity by 2030. We are barely halfway there. Ministers and the department have known for years that planning delays, grid capacity and a lack of investment in skills and infrastructure are holding us back but have failed to act.
"The SDLP Opposition has consistently warned that the approach to energy policy is adrift - with no clear roadmap, no delivery mechanisms and no accountability. This failure is now jeopardising our transition to a low-carbon economy and the opportunities that should come with it - new jobs, lower bills, and greater energy security."