Dozens of flooded businesses still awaiting payments from support scheme

More than six months after major flooding devastated Newry city centre, dozens of businesses are still awaiting payments from the Department for the Economy’s Flood Support Scheme.

Last October and November, businesses and infrastructure suffered in Newry and Downpatrick as a result of extreme weather conditions.

Press Eye - Northern Ireland - 1st November 2023

Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye

Flooding in Newry City Co Down.

Owner of Joseph Magee's bar in Newry, Delia Magee.

The clean up operation has started in Newry, the owners of flooded businesses are facing expensive clean-up operations.

Water levels in the most heavily affected areas have receded overnight.

:The clean up operation has started in Newry. The owners of flooded businesses are facing expensive clean-up operations. Water levels in the most heavily affected areas receded overnight. — Press Eye - Northern Ireland - 1st November 2023 Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye Flooding in Newry City Co Down. Owner of Joseph Magee's bar in Newry, Delia Magee. The clean up operation has started in Newry, the owners of flooded businesses are facing expensive clean-up operations. Water levels in the most heavily affected areas have receded overnight. :The clean up operation has started in Newry. The owners of flooded businesses are facing expensive clean-up operations. Water levels in the most heavily affected areas receded overnight.

placeholder image — Press Eye - Northern Ireland - 1st November 2023 Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye Flooding in Newry City Co Down. Owner of Joseph Magee's bar in Newry, Delia Magee. The clean up operation has started in Newry, the owners of flooded businesses are facing expensive clean-up operations. Water levels in the most heavily affected areas have receded overnight. :The clean up operation has started in Newry. The owners of flooded businesses are facing expensive clean-up operations. Water levels in the most heavily affected areas receded overnight.

And damage from the flooding remains obvious, with some shutters still pulled, and for others, relocation or reopening has been nearly entirely at their own cost.

The application process for the main tranche of government funding has now closed, but it is still unclear when the scheme will pay out.

Liz Kimmins MLA at the scene of the flooding last year.

The support payment in question is in addition to the £7,500 grants and rates relief payment that has already been provided to businesses who met the qualification criteria late last year.

The speed in which the payments are being rolled out has been questioned by South Down MLA Diane Forsythe.

She delivered a statement to politicians at Stormont on Tuesday (May 21) outlining her concerns

It read: “The financial response was always slow, and all local representatives called for urgent support.

“This failure to get the money, as promised, to those who have suffered is unacceptable and needs to be explained.

“It cannot be delayed any further. Those businesses have suffered extreme losses.

Mrs Forsythe also outlined how many local shops have been forced to close because they cannot afford to meet the bills associated with lost stock.

“Many have run up debt to stay open, in the hope of receiving the promised relief soon,” she said.

“People deserve to get what they have been promised and get it promptly.”

“The failure to deliver dramatically affects those suffering and the confidence of our communities and of the entire population of Northern Ireland, because they lose faith in our Government's delivery on financial promises that were made.”

The South Down DUP representative has questioned the interim Department for the Economy Minister, Deirdre Hargey over how much of the £10 million scheme has already been paid out, over fears “ it is well below what has been promised”.

Mrs Forstythe said: “The infrastructure failures are still visible and unresolved, with no report from the Department for Infrastructure on the responses or lessons learned.

“Roads in my constituency are still partially closed seven months on, following landslides in Rostrevor, and the promised repairs needed because of the devastation in Ballinran have not been completed.

“The failure of the Department for the Economy to deliver the money promised to businesses in a timely manner is a disgrace, and the Minister needs to make it a priority today.”

Her comments were echoed by Sinn Féin’s Newry & Armagh MLA, Liz Kimmins, who has called on Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to work at pace to roll out flood support to affected businesses.

She said: “I met the Economy Minister Deirdre Hargey this week to discuss the flood relief payments for impacted businesses across Newry and South Armagh.

“The Minister has assured me that money has already been made available to the Council and that many payments will be made this week.

“We need the Council to work at pace to process applications to ensure financial help urgently reaches these affected businesses.

“If any business has a query or needs any assistance please contact me or any of the local Sinn Féin representatives.”

An Economy Department Spokesperson said: “The Department is committed to the roll-out of the Enhanced Flood Support Scheme, and an update will be provided in due course.”