Northern Ireland Executive ministers meet to discuss floods response

Over the weekend torrential rain in Northern Ireland caused widespread flooding, with rivers bursting their banks, landslides and roads cut off.

Ministers from Northern Ireland Executive met yesterday (Monday 18th August) to discuss both short and long term disaster recovery arrangements and immediately announced an emergency payment scheme to help communities hit by the flooding.

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson and Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy also met with senior officials from government departments and agencies at Stormont to assess the situation. Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew was briefed on the meeting.

The Ministers were told that almost one month's worth of rainfall fell in 12 hours across Northern Ireland during Saturday.

The Roads Service, Northern Ireland Water, the Rivers Agency and the Housing Executive have also been working with the emergency services and local government to clear roads and homes affected by the heavy rainfall.

Government agencies received thousands of phone calls from the public.
Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy said: "The Executive would like to pay tribute to the heroic work of the agencies in dealing with what was an extraordinary weather event.

"The agencies met on Friday after receiving weather warnings and were able to review the plans and liaise on arrangements for the weekend.

"As a result Northern Ireland Water was able to deploy resources and contractors throughout the event and around the clock.”

•Date: 19th August 2008• Region: UK •Type: Article •Topic: DR general
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