NORTHERN IRELAND'S Rural Affairs Minister Edwin Poots has visited a farming business in the Owenkillew river valley to discuss the ongoing impacts of the August 2017 flooding in the area and subsequent land slippage.

Minister Poots, who was invited to the farm by the Ulster Farmers Union, said: “I welcome the opportunity to visit the area to meet with a local farmer impacted by the flooding in 2017 and to learn about the challenges faced by those directly affected. I have seen the impact of landslides and erosion caused by the heavy rain, and heard about the work required to restore land back to productivity. I am considering requests for financial assistance and plan to make an announcement in the near future.”

Following the flooding, a number of measures have been taken by DAERA to assist those affected, including £500,000 funding for the Loughs Agency to carry out remedial fencing woks in the worst affected areas and a range of farm advisory and practical support measures.