Fermanagh flooding task force holds first meeting

The cross-departmental Task Force, set up by the Executive in response to the high levels of flooding in County Fermanagh last month, has held its first meeting in Enniskillen.

Established to investigate the factors which contributed to the flooding and consider how departments can assist in dealing with the aftermath, the Task Force group will examine lessons learned, identify longer term planning issues and consider preparations for possible measures to minimise the impact of future flooding.

Today’s meeting was attended by Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster MLA, Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy MP MLA, Department of the Environment Minister Edwin Poots MLA and Head of the Civil Service Bruce Robinson. Representatives from a range of government organisations, including local agencies, also took part.

The meeting provided Ministers with the opportunity to hear first hand from local officials about the challenges they faced in dealing with the flooding as well as getting an update on the current position.

Ministers paid tribute to the people of Fermanagh for the way they responded as a community to help each other at a very difficult time and contributed to making the impact less than it might otherwise have been.

The Ministers also expressed a desire to hear from those most affected by the floods and announced that evidence gathering meetings will be held in Fermanagh in early January 2010.

The group agreed a target date of the end of February 2010 for producing the first phase of its review.

Notes to editors:

1. The Fermanagh Flooding Task-force met at Fermanagh Council Offices in Enniskillen.
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