RHI-30 Response Accepted Self-assessed

Budget Holder Financial Training

Recommendation

Civil servants who are responsible for holding and monitoring a budget should have to demonstrate core requirements in financial literacy and an understanding of how public spending operates, including what is expected of them according to the core guidance contained in 'Managing Public Money Northern Ireland'. The Inquiry recommends that the financial training requirements for budget holders be reviewed and updated.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the NI Executive Response (October 2021), an online package of Public Expenditure training has been delivered for both budget holders and general-service grades, and finance training programs have been established with ongoing specialist expertise development. According to the NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024), the Northern Ireland Audit Office confirmed in October 2024 that budget holder financial training requirements have been addressed.
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 Department of Finance
07 Oct 2021

[Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 19-23, 29-33 together as a group under the 'Governance and Financial Controls' theme.] Accepted in full. Addressed through the delivery of an online package of Public Expenditure training for both budget holders and general-service grades. Finance training programs established; specialist expertise development ongoing.

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Progress Timeline
Official Report
15 Oct 2024

NIAO Second Progress Report (October 2024): Implemented. Budget holder financial training requirements addressed.

Source
Source
Inquiry RHI Inquiry
Report The Report of the Independent Public Inquiry into the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme 13 Mar 2020
View Source
Responsible Bodies
Department of Finance Primary
Themes & Tags
Staff training and development Departmental capacity for grant design Governance Finance Training Budget Holders
Recommendation age 6.0 yrs
Last formal update 525 days ago