The Ulster Unionist Party’s Economy Spokesperson John Stewart MLA said:
“With one day to go for the NI Micro-business Hardship Fund grant applications it looks like over a quarter of the fund - £10 million – will go unclaimed. In my opinion the criteria for this grant was always too narrow and ruled out far too many businesses that had fallen through the cracks.
“Today I have called on the Economy Minister, Diane Dodds to urgently repackage this remaining money into a fund that our social enterprises and sole traders can avail of ASAP, because many are in desperate hardship and need access to funding now..
“It quite simply isn't right that some of our businesses have received no support whatsoever during this entire crisis.”