Residents not told of flood risk

Torrential rain across Northern Ireland flooded many homes

Hundreds of people given planning permission for their houses may not have been told they were at risk of flooding.

The BBC has learned that since September 2005, planners have not been given advice about the flooding risk to single houses built in the countryside.

It is understood the Rivers Agency has not been able to help the Planning Service because of its workload.

The Planning Service said it advises applicants of the need to check.

"It has been left to the person requesting the planning permission to find out for themselves," said BBC NI's environment correspondent Mike McKimm.

"However, it would be hard for an individual to obtain such information as, unlike the rest of the UK, no flood risk map is publically available here."

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One resident explains how she feels about now being told about the risk of flooding