RHI-13 Response Accepted AI-assessed

External Expertise on Project Boards

Recommendation

Project boards are an essential element of project management oversight and must include individuals who can challenge and who are not directly responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the project. Such boards, in appropriate circumstances, can benefit greatly from the inclusion of individuals external to the Northern Ireland Civil Service, preferably with experience/expertise in the project subject matter.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024), updated Dear Accounting Officer guidance recommends the inclusion of external board members and engagement with the Strategic Investment Board on project boards. However, according to the NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024), this recommendation is unlikely to be fully implemented, as project boards with external challenge members remain inconsistently implemented across departments.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.finance-ni.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
Northern Ireland
Response
Accepted
Accepted Northern Ireland Executive
07 Oct 2021

[Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 8-18, 24, 26-28, 32b, 34-36 together as a group under the 'Professional Skills, Resourcing, Record Keeping and Raising Concerns' themes.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can be accepted in full. They have been addressed in work to date through: strengthening of policy and guidance relating to project delivery; work to establish the new NICS Project Delivery Profession; accredited practitioner-level training in the Management of Risk methodology, available via NICSHR Learning & Development; amendment to the Treasury Orange Book (Risk Management); the Review of Business Case and Expenditure Approval processes; agreement by the NICS Board on the principles and procedures for use of SIB. Further work is required to: Establish the NICS Project Delivery Profession; Ensure that all Departments have in place a P3O Office, as set out in DAO 02/20; Bring forward proposals for the implementation of Portfolio Management; Implement the IPA's 'Get to Green' refresh of Gateway and wider Assurance Reviews; reform behaviours and culture to ensure a greater focus on risk management; improve the way in which departments work with Invest NI and SIB, ensuring that that partnership dovetails with Gateway and existing guidance on the obligations of the SRO; improve the reporting of risks to Ministers; develop cross-departmental collaboration and coordination through the PfG outcomes-based approach and the promotion of collaborative behaviours; ensure senior ownership of governance arrangements with third parties.

Read Full Response
Progress Timeline
Official Report
15 Oct 2024

NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024): Unlikely to be Fully Implemented. Despite updated Dear Accounting Officer guidance recommending external board members and SIB engagement, DoF maintains that Senior Responsible Owners are accountable for board composition and that monitoring operational implementation would be 'disproportionate'. NIAO concludes the planned action is unlikely to fully address the recommendation because there is no monitoring of whether project boards actually include external challengers in practice. This assessment was downgraded from 'Likely' in 2022.

Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Insufficient Progress
15 Oct 2024
NIAO Second Progress Report government_response

NIAO identified this as one of 5 recommendations unlikely to be fully addressed. Project boards with external challenge members remain inconsistently implemented across departments.

View detailed findings

The NIAO's second progress report (October 2024) assessed 42 recommendations and found 26 fully implemented. RHI-13 (requiring external expertise on project boards) was among 5 recommendations considered unlikely to be fully addressed by actions currently planned.

NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024) View Source
Source
Report The Report of the Independent Public Inquiry into the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme 13 Mar 2020
Responsible Bodies
Northern Ireland Executive Primary
Recommendation age 6.0 yrs
Last formal update 525 days ago