Proposals to establish a unit within the Department for the Economy to examine cases of financial hardship among Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) recipients have been described as “inadequate” by the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU).

A consultation document on the proposals did not point to any additional support coming to RHI claimants by way of grant aid. The consultation closed to responses last week.

“Analysis of European Union regulations suggests that the only assistance on offer is a six-month loan at commercial rates.

“This would involve recipients, who are already under financial pressure having to commit to more debt, which makes no sense,” said UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt.

He described the proposals as “nothing more than a sticking plaster” and suggested that department officials have failed to understand the financial hardship that RHI recipients are under due to tariff cuts.

“They entered into a government scheme in good faith and were essentially sold out,” Chestnutt maintained.

In their response to the consultation, the Renewable Heat Association for NI said that the proposals were “unworkable” and “will not bring appropriate relief to affected scheme participants”.

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Proposals to establish a unit to examine cases of financial hardship among RHI recipients have been described as “inadequate” and “unworkable”.