Sinn Féin Fra McCann MLA has called on the Department Social Development Minister to explain to workers why they are going to lose their jobs over the Housing Executive contract fiasco.

The West Belfast MLA said he had asked the minister last week to explain how the overpayment of £18 million could have occurred under his watch.

Mr McCann said: "It now transpires that a number of contractors have had their contracts suspended and their workforce left in limbo.

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"The minister needs to urgently answer questions and explain to the workers why they may lose their jobs and also what action is going to be taken to ensure repairs to tenants homes are carried out.

"The minister used Assembly privilege to name a number of companies accusing them of receiving the overpayments. He now needs to explain who authorised the payments and why.

"I have spoken to a number of people who have concerns about the sensational way in which the minister brought this to the public, it is my understanding that nether he nor his department spoke to any one affected by these allegations.

"Nelson McCausland also needs to deal with the serious problem of falling morale with in the Housing Executive. I will be asking the Social Development Committee to hold its own inquiry into this matter and to call the minister to explain how this happened under his watch."

(CD/MH)