SDLP Mid Ulster candidate Maria Cleary-McGuffin has called on the social development minister to reveal the outcome of an enquiry into alleged overpayment to local construction firms by the Housing Executive.

Ms Cleary-McGuffin, who is running in the Cookstown DEA, said it is "about time" Nelson McCausland acted to "clear the names" of what she described as "well known, local and well respected firms" named in the Assembly last year regarding alleged overpayment of £18m to four contractors by the NI Housing Executive.

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Ms Cleary-McGuffin said: "These sensational claims of £18 million in alleged overpayment were dramatically made last June and, since then, the minister has stood over these accusations. That is unfair to the firms named so publicly. They remain in a state of limbo, as do the jobs of all those employed by these well known, local and well respected firms.

"If the enquiry is complete, why has the minister not revealed the findings or, at least, revealed the status of that enquiry to date? The companies have been under a cloud of uncertainty since last June, with contracts delayed and work put in jeopardy and they deserve to know what is happening. Employees deserve to know and the public deserves to know."

(CD/MH)