Sinn Féin MLA and NI Housing spokesperson Fra McCann has called on the Government to provide additional funding to alleviate the housing shortages in Northern Ireland and stimulate the local construction industry.

This follows the announcement that councils in England are to be offered extra funding for each new build as part of a British Government drive to alleviate housing shortages.

Mr McCann said: "At a time of severe financial restrictions the British Government can see fit to provide extra money for new builds in England as a way of alleviating housing shortages yet there is equal if not greater need in NI.

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"While it is not the responsibility of councils here to build housing developments there should be a scheme devised to enable the NI Housing Executive, Housing Association or developers to administer this type of extra funding for new homes.

"This would have a double impact of addressing housing needs while stimulating a devastated construction sector," he said.

"If the British are serious about addressing housing shortage these moneys should be available in other places than just England and this should be outside the block grant.

"For years there has been chronic under-investment in housing and this needs addressed," he said.

(GK)