Minister's concern over Northern Ireland broadband project
Getty ImagesThe minister for digital has said she is concerned that the £150m pledged for ultra-fast broadband in Northern Ireland under the DUP-Conservative pact may not be spent within the intended two-year timeframe.
Margot James also told BBC NI's Inside Business programme that the lack of a Stormont Executive meant the project was being delayed.
"Two years is ambitious to actually spend this £150m in terms of getting operability right up from nowhere to full delivery," she said.
"I am concerned about it."
Ms James added: "It is great that the money is there, but it is a question of getting the contracting in place, the delivery under way, that is what is being held up by the lack of political leadership currently."
The £150m was pledged in June 2017, as part of a £1bn deal that would secure the Democratic Unionist Party's 10 MPs backing for Theresa May's minority government in Commons votes.
The Northern Ireland Executive collapsed in January 2017 in a bitter row over a botched green energy scheme.
However, disagreements over same-sex marriage and Irish language legislation are now two of the main issues preventing the restoration of devolution.
Inside Business will be on BBC Radio Ulster at 13:30 BST on Sunday.