Tom Elliott, Ulster Unionist MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, has labelled the Executive`s response to the continuing flooding situation in his own constituency and across Northern Ireland as shameful. Mr Elliott wrote to the Environment Minister Mark H Durkan MLA on 16 December 2015 asking for emergency financial support to be extended to small businesses and community halls and was shocked to be told by Mr Durkan on 12 January 2016 that he had sought approval from the Executive for an extension on the 23 November 2015, but has yet to receive it.

Mr Elliott said:

“The challenges facing those households and businesses across the province after the catastrophic incidents of flooding have been well publicised. Based on these facts, I am quite frankly disgusted to hear that the Environment Minister is yet to get a response to a paper he circulated to ministerial colleagues on 23 November 2015 seeking approval to extend the Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance to include small businesses and community facilities. The lack of response from some members of the Executive is shameful and highlights the dysfunctional nature of the current set-up.

“I wrote to Mark H Durkan MLA on 16th December highlighting the plight of Ballindarragh Community Hall in my own constituency, asking the Minister to extend the emergency scheme to small businesses and community halls. I received his response yesterday. It is staggering and inexcusable that the Northern Ireland Executive has yet to agree on this proposal.

“A lot of politicians have paid lip service whilst some people in Fermanagh and across Northern Ireland have been left literally high and dry or under feet of water, forcing some businesses to lay off workers. These people deserve an explanation why an emergency situation has not resulted in an emergency response from the Executive. The Executive needs to deal with this without further delay.”