NI flood victims receive £1.1m

Victims of recent flooding in Northern Ireland have received almost £1.1 million in compensation from a government emergency fund set up in June.

The scheme was set up following widespread flooding as June witnessed its wettest month since records began.

A total of 1,078 households received £1,000 and of the households that were compensated, most were in the Omagh, Castlereagh and Belfast areas.

A spokeswoman for the Department of the Environment said the Northern Ireland Executive had made up to £5m available for the overall fund.

She said: “The department established a scheme to allow immediate payments of £1,000 to be made available to householders, where there was evidence of suffering or severe inconvenience. Each case for assistance was assessed by environmental health officers from the relevant district council."

Households seriously affected by this week's flooding can also apply to the scheme.

(SB/SP)