Debate contribution: Flood Alleviation Plans: Antrim
Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on .
- MLA
- Ms Liz Kimmins
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 9 February 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Flood Alleviation Plans: Antrim
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5369507
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The homeowner flood protection grant scheme was initiated because we recognise that flooding is a growing issue. The scheme remains open to new applications. It covers 90% of the cost of installing flood protection measures to a home up to a maximum of £13,700 of the total survey and estimated installation costs. The homeowner is required to contribute 10% of the survey and installation costs and to any additional costs that may be incurred above the £13,700 limit. I uplifted that limit last year in recognition of the growing issues and the fact that costs had increased but the grant had not been uplifted for a number of years. Homeowners are required to make an initial payment of £50 towards the cost of the specialist survey. That will subsequently be deducted from the 10% contribution that is paid prior to installation. Any grant will be paid directly to the scheme's appointed building surveyor and contractor. More information is available on the website, should people wish to avail themselves of it. The scheme gives an added layer of support and confidence to homeowners. As we see more flooding events, it is becoming evident that it is harder to build our way out of it. What we can do is build in supports, and that is the role of the scheme. I encourage anybody who has been impacted by flooding to their domestic property to look into the scheme and see whether they are eligible.
243 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.01 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.01 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.58 | No |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 1.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:32 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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