To ask the Minister of Finance how his Department will ensure its policies and strategies align with the Green Growth framework to drive positive environmental impacts for Northern Ireland; and how this will be measured.

My Department is putting Green Growth at the heart of our policies – this is reflected in the Green Growth targets in my Department’s Business Plan.

The Department of Finance has a key role to play in enabling Green Growth through its commissioning frameworks including procurement, guidance and budget allocation/alignment. DoF’s role in respect of wider Building Regulations, management of the NICS estate, including the introduction of regional hubs to reduce journey times and associated emissions, will also help deliver the greenhouse gas emission targets by 2050.

The Draft Budget 2022-25 contained proposed allocations of some £304 million of capital for Green Growth over the three year budget period. However, in the absence of an Executive, a final Budget cannot be agreed.