There has been a call to 'build' on opportunities for the local construction industry.

SDLP East Derry candidate Cllr Thomas Conway said a Stormont Executive-led effort to boost the economy in general and the building trades in particular should start at once.

He said: "Sinn Fein and the DUP are telling us their two-year stand-off is over.

"Perhaps now they might pay attention to the recession that has been raging for the same length of time.

"They have no one left to blame. For all their talk of bread-and-butter issues their 'iron grip' on the Executive has been used for everything but job protection and creation," he said.

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"There is no mystery about what needs to be done: all the economists are agreed that bringing forward housing and construction projects is the quickest way to boost the economy.

"Particularly in rural areas there are small building firms laying off workers," he continued.

"Because of the structure of our farming industry, a certain level of building activity is essential to keep the agricultural sector ticking over.

"There is a backlog of school and public building newbuilds and maintenance and there is still a great deal that could be done in social housing.

"Building is important because money spent on construction stays very local, boosting more jobs in building supply and services," he insisted.

"Policing and justice is important, but it's not what people are talking about. They want and expect our devolved institutions to deliver on the economic issues first and foremost," the SDLP man said.

"They are fed up with blame politics and they want to see Executive power used in practical ways. In a word they want jobs and if Sinn Fein and the DUP don't know how to go about it, they should listen to those who do."

(BMcC/GK)