Owners of properties affected by flooding following the heavy rainfall in Northern Ireland in November and December are being urged to apply for the Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme.

The scheme will provide flood assistance of £1,000 to non domestic properties and small businesses, including farm businesses. The initiative will also include recreational and community buildings and places of worship.

A spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) said: "It will be open for applications from 04 to 30 April. Further guidance and application forms will be available on the council websites from 4 April.

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"The scheme has a range of criteria as set out below:

• The claim is eligible where a loss incurred was not insurable;

• Only small businesses can apply (employing less than 25 people);

• Farm businesses will include farmyards and land farmed by the business;

• Farmland must have been underwater for at least 14 days and incurred additional cost due to reduced productivity or unplanned sward restoration / reseeding work;

• Businesses must have been unable to operate due to constrained access for at least 14 days;

• Businesses must be able to demonstrate a remedial cost to the business of at least £1,000."

(CD/LM)