Stormont announces emergency support scheme for North West businesses

By Q Radio news

Stormont Finance minister Conor Murphy has announced details of an emergency support scheme for businesses impacted by localised Covid-19 restrictions in the Derry City and Strabane Council area.

Small business will be able to apply for an £800 grant to cover the two-week period of restrictions, with larger businesses eligible for £1,200.

Announcing the grant scheme outside Parliament Buildings at Stormont, Mr Murphy said it was designed to be flexible.

“This scheme is designed in such a way that it could continue on if there is an extension to that over the two weeks without people having to apply again, and also that it can be replicated in other council areas should similar restrictions be imposed there,” he said.

Mr Murphy said the scheme was more generous that similar support packages that had been offered in Great Britain and the Irish Republic.

The minister acknowledged the scheme would not be transformative and was rather an emergency response delivered at pace.

“This doesn’t purport to regenerate the north west, it’s about emergency support to people,” he said.

Mr Murphy also raised concern about the support measures the Government was introducing to replace the furlough scheme.

“We have continuously raised this issue with the British government and Treasury that the abrupt end to the furlough scheme is going to have a very devastating impact on people’s prospects of retaining their jobs and lead to a significant increase in redundancies,” he said.

The minister added: “We need to continue that dialogue with the British government in recognising that we are possibly returning back to lockdown situations and the schemes they have don’t cut it in terms of giving that ongoing support to businesses.”