Flooding support scheme to benefit local people

Agriculture Minister, Michelle O'Neill pictured during a recent visit to Culmore Point to assess flooding damge. Included is, from left, Colr. Tony Hassan, Michelle O'Neill MLA, Colr. Sandra Duffy and Alderman Maurice Devenney.

Sinn FÃ©in Councillor Tony Hassan has welcomed the announcement by Agriculture Minister ,Michelle O'Neill, of a scheme to help homeowners protect their property from flooding.

“The announcement by Minister O’Neill is further testament of the commitment by the Minister to ensure people under the threat of flooding are protected.

“The scheme which will cover up to 90 per cent of the cost of fitting flood doors to homes under threat of repeated flooding will help bring peace of mind to those residents as well as protecting their property and processions.”

“It is important that home owners are not living on their nerves everytime there is a period of heavy rain and I would appeal to those residents who homes are under threat to contact the Department of Agriculture for full details,” Colr Hassan added.

“I am also pleased the Minister is to raise the issue with the Executive of extending the flooding hardship grant to non domestic properties. Many small businesses have been hit hard over the past few weeks and these people must also be supported in getting their businesses back up and running.”