Business leaders have welcomed the Department for Finance’s £178m trio of grant schemes announced today. The three new business support grants will give firms who are continuing to face challenges during the pandemic a lifeline said Finance Minister Conor Murphy. The schemes will support almost 20,000 businesses including: a £50,000 grant for large businesses unable to access grant funding during the first lockdown; a £25,000 payment to manufacturing businesses unable to access grant funding during the first lockdown; and top-up payments of £5,000 and £10,000 for businesses which received grants during the first lockdown but are not eligible for one of the current Executive support schemes.