An SDLP MLA has called on the government to intervene immediately to provide support for the local construction sector.

This comes after it was announced Dixon's Contractors is set to be placed into administration, threatening almost 90 jobs.

Sinead Bradley MLA said: "Our local construction sector needs an immediate and sustained intervention from government to provide support for skilled jobs throughout the supply chain. The absence of a functioning Executive for the last two years has seen a steady depletion of public sector workloads, which many firms rely on. The additional threat of a no-deal Brexit is having a detrimental impact on new investment opportunities. It is a toxic mix.

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"The current talks must lead to the restoration of an inclusive powersharing Executive with an ambitious Programme for Government that delivers an enhanced pipeline of infrastructure and housing new build opportunities. We cannot continue to abandon one of our most important sectors."

(CM/MH)