The DUP and Sinn Fein last night played down the growing sense of stalemate which has forced the first Executive meeting in a month to be called off.

The postponement of this week’s scheduled session could mean a three-month gap between meetings with several important issues — the new Education and Skills authority, for example, and the 11-plus reforms — left in limbo.

One of the Executive Ministers last night said her ability to deliver her housing strategy was being hindered by the delays.

SDLP Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie said: “The people who elected us have the right to expect much better. This year I have set out to deliver a progressive and innovative strategy to deliver social and affordable housing. This is now being frustrated by the continued procrastination of Sinn Fein and their refusal to play ball at Executive level.”

Ms Ritchie said she had written to the First and Deputy First Ministers after she was prevented from tabling three Bills to the Executive because of the cancellation of meetings.

Meanwhile it emerged last night that First Minister Peter Robinson has briefed the Prime Minister on the stalemate. A DUP spokesman said the meeting was part of the First Minister’s regular ongoing contact with the Prime Minister to update him on the situation in the province.

Junior Ministers Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP and Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly, who work in the office of First and Deputy First Ministers, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness, said talk of a crisis or deadlock was “premature”.

The people who elected us have the right to expect much better

Mr Donaldson insisted: “We are getting on with the process of government. Of course, there are some big issues we need to address and challenges we face, there is nothing new in that. But talk of a crisis is somewhat premature.”

And Mr Kelly added: “I don't think there is a crisis. You'll know a crisis when a crisis comes. But certainly people are going off on holidays.”

But Alliance Party leader David Ford, head of the self-styled ‘opposition’ politicians at Stormont, said the political crisis was deepening by the day.

“It is time to face facts — this Executive is simply not working. It now appears that the Executive will not meet until September. I am sure none of the working population will be off on holiday from mid-June until September, so local people will be angry that our Executive will do nothing in that time period,” he said.

“The DUP, Sinn Fein, UUP and SDLP have shown themselves to be incapable of running the country. The public put these parties in a position of power and they have thrown this honour back in their face. The Executive must get back to work quickly or come clean on the problems it faces.”

After the latest postponement was confirmed by the Executive secretariat, a spokesman for the Office of First and Deputy First Minister said, however: “The work of government is still going on across all 11 departments (and) there are procedures in place to deal with any urgent issues.”

The cancellation is confirmation, however, of a growing stand-off between the DUP and Sinn Fein over a date for the transfer of policing and justice powers to the Assembly, an Irish language act and the Maze stadium blueprint.

Education reforms, including decisions vital to the formation of the new Education and Skills authority are among more than 30 other items of business being delayed. Decisions were also thought to be imminent on water charges, the countryside planning policy PPS14 and the proposed replacement system for the 11-plus school transfer tests.