Sinn Féin MLA Francie Molloy has called on the Environment Minister to speed up the planning process as the delay is holding back the creation of much-needed jobs.

The Mid-Ulster MLA said: "The planning process is far too long drawn out and it is stifling the creation of new jobs in the Mid Ulster area.

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"One new factory in Mid-Ulster which is now two years with the Planning Office could immediately create 70 new jobs but the planning process is holding it back

"This factory would be built on a brown-field site and the demand for new factory space in the area in not reflected in the planning process.

"These delays, the fact that it takes two years for a planning application to be decided upon while people are suffering from a lack of employment opportunities are unacceptable."

(CD)