NI's construction sector is to be in the firing line if the Prime Minister fails to deliver a £18bn pledge that was made to Northern Ireland after the 2006 St Andrews agreement.

"Throughout the construction industry in Northern Ireland alarms bells will be ringing because of David Cameron's singular failure to confirm that his Government will be living up to its obligations under the St Andrews Agreement said the DUP Deputy Leader, Nigel Dodds.

The former Stormont Finance Minister said the Westminster Government may not be fully committed to Northern Ireland's multi-million pound capital budget allocation and has expressed his dissatisfaction at the failure of the Prime Minister, David Cameron, to answer a simple question concerning the cash commitments made in the St. Andrews Agreement.

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During Prime Minister's Question Time on Wednesday, Mr Dodds asked the Prime Minister if he would honour the pledge made by the previous (Labour) administration and warned that the response by the Prime Minister made reference to the NI Justice budget and the long-running Presbyterian Mutual Society (PMS) situation but passed no comment on the capital budget.

The DUP Deputy Leader said: "David Cameron's singular refusal to answer a simple question is unsatisfactory.

"People are entitled to know just what plans the Tory/Lib Dem coalition has for Northern Ireland's vital capital budget allocation.

"Cutting the budget by some 50% as has been indicated by briefings and hints by the Government, not only runs contrary to an internationally binding agreement but would have a devastating effect upon Northern Ireland and serve to plunge us in to a double-dip recession," he fumed.

"It is becoming ever more apparent that the Tories have the knives sharpened for Northern Ireland," he warned.

See: St Andrew's Cash On Way, Says Owen

(BMcC/GK)