Northern Ireland agriculture minister Michelle O'Neill, has responded positively to calls to support farmers and other rural businesses affected by the recent exceptional flooding between 12 November and 30 December 2015.
The Emergency Financial Assistance Scheme will provide flood assistance of £1,000 to non-domestic properties and small businesses, including farm businesses.
It will also include recreational and community buildings and places of worship.
It is a one off extension to the existing DOE scheme operated by local councils and will jointly-funded by DARD and DOE.
DARD will also provide a technical assessment of eligibility in relation to farm businesses if required.
The application window will open from 4 April to 30 April. 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; and
- Businesses must be able to demonstrate a remedial cost to the business of at least £1,000.
