Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Housing Fra McCann said he welcomes the report by the Audit Office into Housing Executive maintenance contracts.

Sinn Féin had initially brought the concerns of Housing Executive tenants to the attention of the Audit Office.

The West Belfast MLA said: "People in West Belfast knew at first hand the shoddy workmanship of contractors and complained over a lengthy period for change.

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"The report zeros in on Red Sky and highlights the serious problems tenants faced in their dealings with this company. Indeed it was the many complaints made by residents to Sinn Féin elected representatives including the current MP Paul Maskey, that saw us pursue the Housing Executive and the department to bring this to a head.

"What concerns me is the present minister’s staunch defence of Red Sky, when he instructed the Housing Executive to reinstate this company after they had been stripped of their contract.

"The minister needs to explain why he and other members of the DUP took this stance. Former DSD ministers Margaret Ritchie and Alex Attwood failed to act on this issue when it was brought to their attention by Sinn Féin and they too have questions to answer.”"

(CD)