Builders awaiting payment for contracts they have completed for the various Stormont Departments are facing long delays in having their bill settled.

Foyle Sinn Fein (SF) MLA Martina Anderson is demanding new steps to ensure the prompt payment of building contractors who carry out work for public agencies.

She said this week: "I have been contacted by a number of local contractors who carried out grant-sided work for the NI Housing Executive.

"In many cases, they have been waiting at least four months to be paid and sometimes as much as six or seven months.

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"Many small businesses rely on these contracts to survive - particularly in the current climate where there is little work available - but this delay in payment is putting them in real danger," she fumed.

"The recently revised Code of Practice relating to public clients and suppliers is supposed to guarantee the prompt payment of contractors.

"Clearly, that isn't happening if some builders are being forced to wait up to seven months to be paid," she continued.

"I have raised this issue with the Stormont Housing Minister and I would urge any contractors who are experiencing similar difficulties to contact my office," she said, noting that she would then raise their specific case with the Central Procurement Directorate, the organisation responsible for implementing the code of practice.

(BMcC/GK)