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Electric vehicle chargers for Stormont Assembly members have been suspended while a new system to charge for their use is introduced.
It comes after it emerged that MLAs have been using free electric vehicle chargers at Parliament Buildings, raising questions about the use of their paid travel allowance.
Charging points have been free for MLAs in the upper car park while visitors to Parliament Buildings have had to pay.
MLAs can claim a travel allowance for their commute to Stormont, which, at its highest, is more than £6,500 annually.
Speaker Edwin Poots told the Assembly on Monday morning that the use of EV chargers in the upper car park will remain suspended until the new system is in place.
He said the Assembly Commission had met that morning, and formally agreed that a new EV system will be introduced, with payment being required for all EV charging points in the Assembly Commission’s responsibility on a consistent basis.
“The arrangements for the retention of data will also be reviewed for the new system. Officials have been asked to take the matter forward as quickly as possible,” he told MLAs.
“In the meantime, it has been agreed that the use of EV chargers in the upper car park will remain suspended until the new system is in place.”
Mr Poots also confirmed that officials will engage with MLAs who have been using the EV chargers to arrange reimbursement.
He added that current system had been introduced in 2015, and that decisions around the introduction and subsequent management of the EV chargers “were operational ones that did not involve members of the commission”.
“Many Members have noted that, while they had seen the chargers, they were not aware of the arrangements for their use,” he said.
“However, the Assembly Commission has acknowledged this morning that legitimate public concerns have been raised. I thank Commission members for their cooperation in the meeting today and note the unanimous cross-party agreement to deal with the matter.”
