Measures also include extending the stamp duty holiday to June, investing in chronically underfunded NI Water, and supporting modern methods of construction.

The UK’s Budget published in March has extended the stamp duty holiday on house purchases under £500,000.

In both England and NI, the reprieve which was due to end on March 31st has been extended to the 30th June. This means 90 per cent of people buying a new home will continue to pay no stamp duty at all.

The UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak also confirmed a new mortgage guarantee scheme, available UK wide, to incentivise lenders back into the 95 per cent mortgage market.