Alliance MLA Andrew Muir has pressed the new Communities Minister on the need to provide on-going support to the advice sector as lockdown restrictions ease.

Mr Muir was speaking during Assembly question time on Tuesday afternoon.

He said: “The Communities Minister was quick to act and implement support at the start of this crisis, but with each day the situation is changing and this attention to helping others cannot slip in the wake of lockdown easing.

“The public health emergency is quickly turning to a serious economic crisis and with the advice sector being the go-to services for many, we need to be sure it remains supported so it can effectively help local people adjust to the new normal.

“I hope the Minister will take my suggestion on board and meet with the advice sector as soon as possible to see what additional measures are required to help in this transition.”