Sinn Fein is urging the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to end the outsourcing of maintenance contracts following the collapse of construction firm Carillion.

The party's housing spokesperson, Carál Ní Chuilín, made the call after new claims that investors knew Carillion was heading for disaster up to two years before the company collapsed.

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She said: "The model is broken. Outsourcing to companies like Carillion, favour the short term interests of shareholders and investors over the long term interests of decent wages for workers and sustainable services for citizens. It's time to change.

"That's why Sinn Féin is supporting the call for the Housing Executive to reject a takeover by another company, end outsourcing the maintenance of its housing stock and bring it back in-house by expanding its direct labour force."

(CD/LM)