Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy wanted to keep RHI scheme going

It has been revealed that Sinn Fein Assembly candidate and former Minister for Regional Development Conor Murphy wanted to keep the botched RHI scheme going.

The Belfast Telegraph have said: "A Freedom of Information request to Ofgem, the energy regulator, shows that the highest uptake for RHI came during the final two weeks in February 2016, after Mr Murphy fought to keep the scheme open.

"His constituency in Newry and Armagh had the second highest number of RHI applicants after Fermanagh-South Tyrone."

Speaking in a Sinn Fein press release issued on February 11, 2016, Mr Murphy said that he had discussed the closure date with Jonathan Bell, the then Enterprise Minister.

Speaking at the time Mr Murphy said: "I welcome today's announcement that the domestic and non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive scheme will remain open until February 29.

"The Enterprise, Trade and Investment minister had initially planned to close the scheme earlier, which would have caused tremendous difficulties for those currently involved in preparing applications.

"I discussed this with the minster and urged him to keep the scheme open to allow those applications to be completed and thankfully he has now done so.

"This will mean the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme will remain open for two weeks after the minister's proposed closure date."

The 'cash for ash' scandal is set to cost the Northern Ireland taxpayer £490m over the next 20 years if a solution is not found.

The aim of the scheme was to encourage businesses to use more renewable energy.

Businesses taking part in the scheme ended up receiving more in funding than the cost of fuel and the scheme became oversubscribed.