Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has provided £119,000 of funding to homes impacted by recent flooding through the Scheme of Financial Assistance (SEFA).

Householders in the area who suffered inconvenience due to internal flooding to their properties were able to claim £1,000 through the Scheme as an offer of practical assistance. After the flooding began the Council has been working to identify eligible households and distribute cheques promptly to ensure that homes have been made habitable as quickly as possible.

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The emergency funds are made available through the Department for Communities (DfC) and administered by Councils in response to the needs of householders across Northern Ireland in the event of flooding.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte said; "SEFA closed on Thursday 16 November and I would like to pay tribute to Council officers for ensuring that all 119 eligible households each received £1,000 payment within seven days of the scheme ending, helping them to make their homes fit to live in as quickly as possible.

"I know residents have lost a great deal and there is still much to be done. However, I hope that this quick payment has helped in some way to begin to rebuild what was lost.

"I would like to thank the Department for Communities for its funding of SEFA and the Council teams and agencies who worked tirelessly on the ground from the outset of this emergency to respond to the needs of households and businesses."