The Minister for Regional Development has been slammed for failing to put money aside for essential improvement works on the A1 in Northern Ireland.

Four people have been killed on the road in recent months and the SDLP has continued to call for improvements to be made to its safety.

SDLP MLA for Upper Bann Dolores Kelly said: "The Minister for Regional Development told me in the Assembly that she has not set aside any money for it to be carried out. In fact, Michelle McIlveen revealed the design work for this has not even been completed and the Department has yet to conduct the Public Inquiry.

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"I do not find it acceptable that six months on from calling for urgent action to be taken to prevent further deaths on this road, work hasn't even begun. Nor am I satisfied with being advised that any funding is dependent on future budget settlements. We know from recent experience that there is no real commitment to investing in our infrastructure. For all the talk of building the A6, only 8 miles outside Randalstown is being upgraded."

(CD/LM)