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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Approach to flooding 'needs work' | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| More needs to be done to ensure responses to flooding in Northern Ireland are better coordinated, the regional development minister has said. | |
| Last week, hundreds of homes in Belfast and parts of counties Tyrone and Down were flooded after torrential rain. | |
| Speaking at Stormont, Conor Murphy said the executive was determined to review how the situation was handled. | |
| "We want to improve the response of all the agencies where this is possible," he said. | |
| Meanwhile, Belfast City Council has begun issuing cheques to households affected by the recent flooding. | |
| Compensation | |
| The payments for £1,000 are being given out at Avoniel Leisure Centre in east Belfast, to those whose homes have already been assessed. | |
| Hundreds of assessments have already been carried out, with others due to be contacted soon. | |
| Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rogers said he believed many people could still be eligible for the payments. | Belfast Lord Mayor Jim Rogers said he believed many people could still be eligible for the payments. |
| "There is no differential, if you have had water into your home in the Belfast City Council area you qualify for this amount," he said. | "There is no differential, if you have had water into your home in the Belfast City Council area you qualify for this amount," he said. |
| "We believe there are still more people who have not bothered making a telephone call. | "We believe there are still more people who have not bothered making a telephone call. |
| "We would urge them to do that immediately so we can assess the damage and give them the cheque for £1,000." | "We would urge them to do that immediately so we can assess the damage and give them the cheque for £1,000." |
| A council spokesman said they would "continue to proactively contact all those affected during the next few days". | A council spokesman said they would "continue to proactively contact all those affected during the next few days". |
| He said anyone collecting cheques should bring photographic ID and a utility bill with their address on it, otherwise the cheque could not be paid out. | He said anyone collecting cheques should bring photographic ID and a utility bill with their address on it, otherwise the cheque could not be paid out. |