The Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson, MP, has announced an emergency payments scheme to help householders hit by severe flooding across Northern Ireland.

The Department of Environment will administer the scheme which has been approved by the Department of Finance & Personnel

The scheme is entitled “Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance to District Councils – Flooding, August 2008”

Under the scheme the Department of Environment will reimburse Councils for expenditure incurred as a result of taking of immediate action following an emergency situation. 

Individual householders will be eligible for a £1,000 payment where a senior official, eg an Environmental Health Officer, has taken immediate action and has obtained evidence that complies with the scheme.  The £1,000 is an offer of practical assistance to those who have suffered severe inconvenience, to ensure homes are made habitable as quickly as possible.  It is not a compensation payment.  Severe inconvenience would be considered where there is evidence of:

•  significant flooding of homes, including under-floor damage in the living areas;
• flooding of garages/utility areas where household utilities are installed (but excluding motor vehicles);
• for apartments, evidence of flooding of basements, containing storage rooms; or
• flooding of caravans, where these are the main place of residence (holiday caravans are excluded from the scheme)

Householders who consider they quality under the scheme should contact Council’s Environmental Health Service – telephone 028 2766 0257

Issued by Ballymoney Borough Council

18/8/08