More than £5million of a £10million funding pot to help support businesses in Newry and Downpatrick impacted by flooding has been handed back to Stormont.
News that less than half of the available funding was allocated to struggling businesses in the wake of the 2023 floods has been branded “inconceivable” by SDLP councillors.
A multi-million-pound support scheme was established by the Department for the Economy, with the Council tasked with helping to distribute funds to affected businesses. Applications closed on March 31.
In a statement to the BBC, the Council said that “a total of £4.7 million has been issued in letters of offer, with 80 applicants making claims paid to the value of £3.8 million to date”.
SDLP Newry councillor Doire Finn said: “Given the destruction caused by this widespread flooding, it’s deeply disappointing that the full amount of funding available has not gone to help those impacted.
“I’ve spoken to many business owners who are still picking up the pieces due to damage caused by these floods, and along with all the other pressures facing businesses at the moment, it makes things very difficult to keep the doors open.
“This underspend raises serious questions about the way these schemes were designed by the department, and I know that many businesses who can clearly demonstrate how the flooding affected them are still struggling with the application process – with some even having their applications refused altogether.
“What was heralded as a vital lifeline has turned into a huge disappointment for many business owners, who must now deal with the consequences of this failure.”
SDLP Downpatrick councillor Conor Galbraith added: “The impact of this flooding is still being felt by everyone in Downpatrick. Businesses have found it difficult to reopen, with some forced to move premises altogether.
“That there was money available which wasn’t spent to help those who really need it is unthinkable and impossible to justify.
“We are already dealing with a situation where many business owners feel let down by this process and the lack of support forthcoming from both the Executive and the local council.
“With millions of pounds being handed back, it’s hard to argue with them.”
