Kelly congratulates Construction Excellence Awards winners

Junior Minister Gerry Kelly, MLA this evening attended the 10th Anniversary of the CEF Specify Construction Excellence Awards 2009 gala dinner in the Culloden Hotel.

Speaking at the event the Junior Minister emphasised that the Executive is committed to helping the construction industry in the present downturn: “Spending under our investment strategy has reached record levels with the £1.7billion spent last year being an almost three fold increase on the levels of spend in 2002/03.

"The bulk of spending was paid out in respect of civil engineering and building-related work done on the ground – the majority delivered by local firms with local suppliers. Without this unprecedented level of Government investment, the impact of the economic downturn would have been much worse.”

The Junior Minister acknowledged the importance of integrating social considerations in the procurement of construction projects and referred to the work of the CIFNI’s Sustainability Task Group. He concluded: “Particularly in this difficult economic period we are supportive of efforts to find work for the unemployed and economically inactive.

"The Task Group’s proposals for Promoting Equality and Sustainable Development were endorsed by the Construction Industry Forum in June 2008. Proposals under the social pillar of sustainability, aim to encourage the economically inactive back into the work place and encourage training and skills development to build a sustainable construction industry.”

Notes to Editors:

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