An urgent meeting is to be held later today, 07 January, to discuss the ongoing flooding issues in Northern Ireland.

Environment Minister Mark H Durkan and Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O'Neill will also attend the meeting.

Mr Durkan said: "There is now no excuse for the Executive failing to convene a full emergency meeting. It is our job to take action and despite my calls for ministerial colleagues to meet the responsibilities of our offices, they are failing to do that. People are right to be frustrated at politicians failing to deliver. It is happening now.

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"The big battle in situations like this is trying to find the money. We have money this time. £1.3m in new money allocated to the NI Executive from the Westminster Flooding Fund. Why the First and Deputy First Ministers haven't acknowledged or responded to my request for an urgent meeting of the Executive to discuss this strategic approach and how this £1.3m can be best used, is frankly bewildering to me and in my book a dereliction of duty.

"It certainly gives little comfort to all of those families, businesses and farmers suffering as a result of recent heavy floods to know that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister don't deem their suffering important enough to break their holiday for.

"While I welcome tomorrow's Ministerial meeting with the chief executives of agencies within DoE, DRD and DARD who are working on the ground to assist those badly affected by recent flooding, people must realise that it will achieve little without input from DfP. The Finance Minister will have the final say over how the £1.3m is allocated."

(CD/LM)