Use '˜sheugh solutions' to combat flood risks: Swann

Mr Swann’s challenge to the minister came after he asked if she will consider giving farmers in Northern Ireland the option of maintaining and managing their own sheughs, given that, on 6 January, the DEFRA Minister Liz Truss announced that DEFRA will introduce legislation in April that will allow farmers across England finally to maintain and manage their own ditches up to the length of one mile.

Responding to Mr Swann’s question, the minister said: “It is not something that I have considered, but we will always look towards examples of good practice, if that is the case. We will not have time in this mandate to pass any other legislation, but certainly it is worth flagging it up now.

“Let us take a look at whether there is something that could be done in the future. However, it is not something that I am considering doing before the end of the mandate,” the minister told Mr Swann.

Mr Swann replied by stating: “In the current climate, when the minister is being criticised, fairly or unfairly, for having done nothing with regard to the flooding that there has been and the flooding that is, potentially, coming, will she consider asking her departmental officials to have a look at it now?”