Outstanding achievements in NI's construction industry have been recognised.

Junior Minister Gerry Kelly, this week attended the 10th Anniversary of the CEF Specify Construction Excellence Awards 2009 gala dinner.

Held in the Culloden Hotel, the event underlined what is best about the local building trade.

The Stormont Junior Minister also emphasised that the Executive is committed to helping the construction industry in the present downturn: "Spending under our investment strategy has reached record levels with the £1.7billion spent last year being an almost three fold increase on the levels of spend in 2002/03.

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"The bulk of spending was paid out in respect of civil engineering and building-related work done on the ground – the majority delivered by local firms with local suppliers.

"Without this unprecedented level of Government investment, the impact of the economic downturn would have been much worse," he said.

Mr Kelly also acknowledged the importance of integrating social considerations in the procurement of construction projects.

He concluded: "Particularly in this difficult economic period we are supportive of efforts to find work for the unemployed and economically inactive.

"The Task Group's proposals for Promoting Equality and Sustainable Development were endorsed by the Construction Industry Forum in June 2008.

"Proposals under the social pillar of sustainability, aim to encourage the economically inactive back into the work place and encourage training and skills development to build a sustainable construction industry."

(BMcC/GK)