To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to AQW 12928/17-22, for her assessment of whether all applications and possible appeals can be processed before the end of this financial year.

Invest NI is working towards closing out all emergency COVID support applications and payments, including those via the Newly Self Employed Support Scheme, by the end of the present financial year.

As you will be aware, the funding allocated for these schemes needs to be spent by the Department within this time period so all efforts are being made to ensure this is achieved. A significant number of Invest NI’s staffing complement are presently allocated to progress the various emergency COVID support schemes with additional staff utilised to tackle specific peak activity periods. The agency also continues to work very closely with my officials to ensure processing and assessment procedures are streamlined to complete payments as quickly as possible.