Tony Walls Workers Party Representative for the Lower Falls has reacted angrily to the Audit Office Report saying the maintenance backlog in Northern Ireland’s health estate has grown to more than £1.6 Billion.

Mr Walls said this is a staggering amount of money and neglect as the report says that 40% of the buildings are not fully compliant with current regulations and need to be upgraded. The health estate has more than 1700 buildings freehold buildings and 200 leasehold that are made up of hospitals, health centres, ambulance stations and fire stations, across 400 sites and the Audit General says many are deteriorating. The report states that the estate is aging and many are not fit for purpose due...