Ulster Unionist economy spokesperson Adrian Cochrane-Watson has said the latest State of Trade survey from the Construction Employers’ Federation (CEF) and PwC, confirms the need for Stormont to re-focus on delivering major infrastructure projects.
Mr Cochrane-Watson MLA said:
“The downbeat assessment of the results of the CEF / PwC State of Trade survey confirms that Northern Ireland is not recovering from the recession as strongly as the rest of the United Kingdom. Clearly some local building firms are struggling for work at present, although I am aware of local construction firms in my constituency who are doing very well. However around 80% of their work is currently in Great Britain, with workers having to commute to the mainland and come home at the weekend. This is not a unique situation by any means.
“Therefore we need a re-focus at Stormont on major, strategic infrastructure projects in Northern Ireland. What the construction industry needs, and what has been lacking in recent years is a delivery pipeline of major infrastructure work. This may require the establishment of a new Central Delivery Agency for Northern Ireland, or a re-booting of the Strategic Investment Board. Whatever name is attached to it, we need a body which has the ability to see the bigger picture, and take decisions on infrastructure projects from roads to schools, on an evidence based, strategic level. A new Programme for Government must commit to this as a priority.”