Write a commentA Newry and Armagh MLA has expressed his concerns at the length of time taking to process urgent grants for those businesses forced to close. Justin McNulty has said that three weeks in to the current 'lockdown' no businesses have received any support.
Mr McNulty explained, "Three weeks ago the First, deputy First and Finance Ministers announced the current series of lockdowns and the financial support which followed. They recognised the importance of that support and the need for it to be delivered urgently. Those restrictions or that lockdown was for four weeks and despite being over three weeks into these latest restrictions, not a single business impacted has received a single penny.
"This is a terrible abandonment of local businesses and the economy. People are really stressed and are really adversely impacted by this decision. They need this financial support to survive and yet it is still nowhere to be seen. This week I have been inundated by local businesses across Newry and Armagh pleading for support, they are looking to know where is the support that was promised to them.’
"This Executive has a habit of promising a lot and making people either beg or wait for the support. Businesses cannot afford to hang around and wait for the Finance Minister and his team to get their act together. They need this support and they need it now."
