To ask the Minister for the Economy whether she will bring forward a grant assistance scheme to support businesses with costs arising as a result of public health requirements and social distancing guidelines due to COVID-19.

My Department, along with Executive colleagues, continue to explore all potential options to identify further means of offering support to as many local businesses as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, to date the NI Executive and the UK Government have introduced an unprecedented number of interventions and packages of financial support to help those who have been affected by the consequences of Covid-19. These interventions have included three grant schemes brought forward by my Department.

The money provided by these schemes was provided with no stipulation on their usage and could therefore be used to offset the costs arising from following social distancing guidelines.