Disappointment over pending covid pay-outs, as new funding pot revealed

A local business owners has voiced her despair, as she await payments through the Department for the Economy’s Covid Restrictions Business Support Scheme.

It comes as the Department of Finance has unveiled plans to spend over £300million on helping worst effected industries, while money from previous schemes is nowhere to be seen.

“I am a bit skeptical about more money,” said Newtownards dance school owner, Hannah McKillen.

The entrepreneur says she submitted an application for the Localised Covid Support Scheme on October 17th, under the belief that the process would take three weeks.

Although she has received an email so say the application has been received, no money has turned up in her bank account yet.

“I just find it a bit confusing how they’re offering more grants and giving more money out, when they haven’t sorted the first lot yet.

"I’ve tried to call so many times, just to understand, even if we were given a rough date, there’d be no problem at all. It just seems like a lot of lack of communication, and a lot of confusion,” Miss McKillen said.

The proprietor of McKillen School of Dance says she is fortunate that 80 per cent of parents have continued to pay tuition fees, with classes moved from the studio to Zoom for the time being.

However, she recognises other industry peers have sadly not been so lucky.

“I know of couple of dance schools that are facing really hard times, and it’s just got to the point that we don’t know what we’re going to do.”

Meanwhile Stormont Economy Minister Diane Dodds has been pressed over the speed at which Covid-19 relief payments are being processed for firms suffering during the pandemic.

“My officials in Invest NI actually worked throughout the weekend. Around half of all of those who have applied have now been paid,'' she said.

“Everyone that has applied and used an accountant's letter as a verification has now been paid and that means that about 3.6 million has gone out into the local economy.”

Mrs Dodds said officials have reached a “manual'' stage, which means having to phone applicants to verify their applications.

“I'm sure this House would agree me with me that it is important to get the balance right between getting money out, and the verification and assurance taxpayers deserve around that money,'' she told MLAs.