Flooding relief and knowledge transfer have been confirmed to be two of the eight Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture (DAERA) decisions awaiting ministerial sign-off AgriLand can reveal.

Devastating floods struck farms in the north-west in August – yet seven months on civil servants continue to insist their hands are tied in terms of providing aid to farmers without a minister in place.

It comes as Northern Ireland enters its 15th month without a functioning executive, with the latest round of talks ending in a squabble over an alleged draft agreement.

A response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by AgriLand stated that the eight decisions awaiting sign-off were as follows:

However, the department would not say why any of the decisions required ministerial approval and did not provide further details of what was included in each of the decisions.

A spokeswoman said: “Any incoming minister would have the right to review all matters presented to them and may make amendments which could alter the outcome of a policy and therefore the decision-making process.”

She added: “Release of these details before a policy is agreed, specifically in the absence of a minister, may inhibit frank discussions in the future which would impact negatively on decision making.”

Meanwhile just over the border, flood-stricken farmers in the Republic were able to avail of a maximum of €15,000 each. It’s understood the majority of those affected have already been paid.

AgriLand previously reported that a meeting involving Northern Ireland’s TB taskforce – the TB Strategic Partnership Group – had also been delayed by the absence of an agriculture minister in Northern Ireland.

After several months of delays, the meeting eventually proceeded without a sitting minister for agriculture; the delay meant measures to tackle TB were set back; while the disease reached its worst level in well over a decade.