Dry cleaners and laundry owners have issued a plea for Stormont support, warning that the industry is on its knees with many businesses set to go under.
They have called for a financial package to help them navigate the rest of lockdown, claiming they have slipped through the net of various Covid-19 executive grants schemes.
Laundries and dry cleaners are deemed essential businesses under coronavirus rules so are ineligible for payments given to businesses forced to close during the current restrictions.
But many owners claim they might as well have their doors locked, given the dramatic drop in trade caused by the pandemic.
They've called for a financial package to help them navigate the rest of lockdown, claiming they've slipped through the net of various executive grants schemes.
More than £200 million of Covid-19 support funding not spent by Stormont departments Finance Minister Conor Murphy has urged ministers to make bids for remaining funds as a matter of urgency Rebecca Black, Press Association 25 January, 2021 15:48
More than £200 million of Covid-19 support funding has not yet been spent by Stormont departments.
Finance Minister Conor Murphy has urged ministers to make bids for remaining funds as a matter of urgency .
Along with the Scottish and Welsh finance minister, Mr Murphy has also requested flexibility from the Treasury to carry over funding into 2021/22.
Northern Ireland has been allocated £3 billion in Covid-19 funding, including £200 million announced just before Christmas.
Ministers announce new business support funding as lockdown restrictions are extended into March A new package of funding confirmed by the Executive will include additional support for the tourism and hospitality sector. Ryan McAleer 22 January, 2021 10:00
NEW support funding for Covid-19-hit businesses was announced on Thursday as ministers confirmed lockdown restrictions will remain in place until at least March.
Economy Minister Diane Dodds said a £26 million scheme would help support up to 278 larger tourism and hospitality businesses, while a £4.1m grant will be available for B&Bs and guest hoses.
Finance Minister Conor Murphy has also revealed an additional £130m package for businesses as part of the January monitoring round.
£290 million financial package to help NI through virus restrictions Conor Murphy said: “Businesses continue to face immense challenges.. Picture by Hugh Russell Michael McHugh, PA Related stories
It includes more than £130 million to support businesses.
Conor Murphy said: “Businesses continue to face immense challenges.
“These allocations include an additional £100 million for my department’s Localised Restrictions Support Scheme to ensure this can continue providing financial assistance to businesses.”
So far, more than £120 million has been issued to over 11,000 businesses through this scheme.
The cash has been allocated between the Stormont departments as part of a routine rethink of spending plans for this year known as a monitoring round.