Ulster Unionist Leader and Finance Spokesperson, Steve Aiken OBE MLA, has called on the Finance Minister to urgently extend the rates relief scheme in Northern Ireland to the next financial year.
Mr Aiken said:
“Businesses across Northern Ireland are under huge pressure and more urgent action is needed to support them in the months ahead. They look across to their counterparts in Great Britain who able to avail of twelve months rates relief and quite understandably they are asking why they cannot avail of the same benefits here in Northern Ireland.
“I would implore Finance Minister Conor Murphy to urgently extend targeted rates reliefs for businesses in Northern Ireland until the next financial year. Businesses are using up their cash reserves at an alarming rate and some won`t be around long enough to be part of Northern Ireland`s economic recovery in the months and years ahead unless urgent action is taken. This can only be one pillar of a recovery plan.
“There are other measures that can be taken and I hope that the Finance Minister is exploring every avenue including extended rates relief to assist Northern Ireland businesses, many of which are currently on their knees.”