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This week coming will be the first time South Down MLA Patrick Brown gets a chance to sit in the Stormont Assembly and already he is submitting a Motion calling for flood relief funding to be speeded up for businesses affected by the October/ November floods that devastated Newry and Downpatrick.
Mr Brown was elected in May 2022 during a time when the Assembly wasn't sitting due to the DUP's boycott of proceedings.
The motion is in response to recent delays in the flood recovery fund, which was promised to open for businesses at the start of this year but that has yet to materialise.
The motion calls on the Minister for the Economy to urgently prioritise the processing of the next phase of the flood relief funding. It also emphasises the importance of ensuring that flooded businesses excluded from the previous £7.5k funding scheme are included in the next funding phase.
The South Down MLA said, "The delay in the promised second phase of the flood recovery fund is significantly impacting our businesses in South Down, particularly in Downpatrick and Newry. Despite suggestions before Christmas that the funding would be released in January, this has not occurred. Businesses are now anxious and uncertain about their next steps without any clarity from the department.
"Assisting Downpatrick in their recovery from the flooding is one of my top priorities in the restored Assembly. It is crucial that this issue remains on the agenda, and our businesses receive the support they rightfully deserve. I have also urgently requested a meeting with the Minister to outline the urgency of implementing this scheme for businesses in Downpatrick."
Speaking about the general challenges ahead Mr Brown added "Whilst I look forward to fulfilling my role as the MLA for South Down in its full capacity, there is no denying the significant challenges ahead. We have a crippling health service, lengthy waiting lists, an underfunded and divided education system, significant climate targets to meet by 2030 and a host of other issues to address. These issues have been exacerbated because DUP held these issues and the people of NI hostage for two years.
"The implications of Brexit and the Windsor Framework will bring additional challenges and Alliance has consistently sought a viable way forward on these issues. The current agreement closely resembles the backstop proposals presented by Theresa May in 2018, which the DUP rejected. It is unacceptable that the people of NI have been left in limbo whilst the DUP agree a Brexit deal, which, I remind my DUP colleagues, they campaigned for initially."
Mr Brown's motion will be added to the No Day Named List of motions and will be available for selection by incoming ministers.
The Motion
‘That this Assembly recognises the devastating impact of floods across Northern Ireland in late 2023, and the acute impact felt by households and businesses in the South East in particular. It recognises that extreme weather events such as flooding are a direct result of the climate crisis, and that we must adapt and prepare for future natural disasters, including adequate government funding schemes to protect and support households and businesses. It calls on the Minister for Economy to urgently expedite the processing of the next phase of flood relief funding for businesses, and ensure this explores ways of including those excluded from previous funding phases.’
