Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Borough Council has outlined the first steps in distributing the funding package which will help businesses impacted by recent flooding.

The initial step involves distributing the £7,500 allocated to individual businesses affected in the borough. Payments to flooded businesses are anticipated to start on 13 November.

Part of the £15 million package agreed by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, is to support the wider economic recovery. To inform this, the Council will be contacting each of the impacted businesses in the coming days to establish more detail on the scale and scope of the damage and determine the most appropriate financial package for business.

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Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Alderman Margaret Tinsley said: "The Council is committed to promptly collaborating with the relevant Government departments to ensure the swift delivery of the financial package to local businesses. In addition, we are actively pursuing further assistance while providing regular updates to those impacted through the support network we have established for businesses."

The Northern Ireland Civil Service has also announced further details of the financial support. The rates relief initiative includes a full exemption of non-domestic rates for properties affected by flooding from 1 November to 31 March 2024. As well as this businesses which have temporarily relocated during the repair of their flooded properties will qualify for a 100 per cent rates relief on the new premises for a duration of three months.