The Stormont Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood, has announced details of a major investigation into the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) .

The Minister has ordered a team of specialists with audit, management, personnel and fraud expertise in to give the NIHE an immediate 'governance audit'.

A series of ongoing investigations in the Housing Executive has raised concern over a period of time that NIHE governance systems are not sufficiently robust.

The Housing Executive Board were told last Wednesday what was going to happen and the audit team has already gone in. That audit is in addition to a fundamental Strategic Review of the NI Housing Executive, due to commence shortly.

The fundamental review follows two BBC investigations. One concerns a dispute between NIHE and east Belfast-based contractors Red Sky.

Questions are being asked over claims that the contractor was paid by senior NIHE managers even though staff in west Belfast refused to sign-off poor or incomplete work.

The BBC claims to have seen seen documents, dated back to late 2007, which catalogue complaints from tenants, residents groups and NIHE's own inspectors

According to the broadcaster a professional services firm, commissioned by NIHE, carried out an investigation which suggests there are "financial anomalies" in areas other than west Belfast where Red Sky has contracts. But it found no evidence of widespread malpractice.

Red Sky has told the BBC it has had maintenance contracts with the Housing Executive for over 15 years, that it implements rigorous quality control standards and is proud of its level of service.

They emphatically deny suggestions of sub-standard work or financial irregularities. The company also said that it has never made any spurious allegations of religious or political discrimination.

Minister Attwood said: "People will be aware that there are several ongoing investigations in relation to Housing Executive activities, including the disposal of land at Nelson Street and other matters relating to contractors and to the behaviour of individual members of staff.

"These investigations are ongoing, including cases with the Ombudsman and the police. I want to be reassured that there no other serious or systemic problems in respect of any the of work of Housing Executive."

Minister Attwood added: "The new investigative work that I have ordered is in addition to the ongoing investigations which shall continue to proceed as appropriate. The audit team's job is to satisfy me in the short term that across a number of important areas, the NIHE is working effectively.

"Beyond the scope of this governance audit, the fundamental strategic review that I am currently planning, shall scope out the role and the future of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive over the next 20 years."

(GK/BMcC)