Northern Ireland's new Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has paid tribute to frontline staff within the Department who worked tirelessly to clear roads and restore essential services following the impact of Storm Éowyn.

Minister Kimmins visited the Traffic Information and Control Centre to express her gratitude to the teams who played a crucial role in responding to the severe weather event.

"I really wanted to meet some of you personally to extend my thanks for your dedication and commitment to delivering public services, in all conditions throughout the year," Minister Kimmins said.

Over 3,000 incidents of obstructions, such as fallen trees and debris, were reported to the Department following Storm Éowyn. Minister Kimmins acknowledged the significant effort undertaken to clear roads and ensure public safety.

"In addition, teams from DfI assisted other agencies including NIE Networks, PSNI, NI Water, health and telecommunications services, to gain access to their critical infrastructure, enabling them to ensure that the services we expect and take for granted were available as quickly as possible," she added. 

Minister Kimmins emphasised the dedication of DfI staff who work tirelessly to maintain essential infrastructure and ensure the safety of the public, often in challenging conditions.

"The recent storm reminds us that staff from the Department for Infrastructure go out in all weathers, leaving behind their families, to make our roads and communities safe and for that I pay tribute to them," she concluded.