Northern Ireland’s environment and agriculture department has announced that it plans to release Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) funds early for farmers hit by last week’s flooding.

On Wednesday, the department announced that, given the effects of flash floods on a number of farm businesses in the north west, government officials will liaise with DEFRA to seek permission from the EU to allow it to raise the level of advanced CAP payment made in October from 50% to 70%.

As farmers have lost livestock and farmland and buildings have been damaged in the worst hit areas, ministers said payments will help those affected deal with the impacts. Farmers have been urged to submit force majeure claims to DAERA ahead of the 14th September deadline to ensure that they do not miss out on EU payments.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's agriculture spokesperson Declan McAleer has met with environment department officials to push for a recovery fund to be set up to help farmers.