VOUCHER SCHEME ‘WHEN IT IS SAFE’

THE High Street voucher scheme is being worked on and will be launched “when it is safe and appropriate”, the Department for the Economy has said.

A week before non-essential retail reopens, a spokesperson added the High Street Stimulus and Holiday at Home schemes were “under development by officials and good progress is being made to bring them to fruition”.

As part of the High Street proposal, individuals could receive between £75 and £100 each on pre-paid cards to spend in town and city centres.

Both schemes are part of Stormont minister Diane Dodds’ Economic Recovery Action Plan.

A spokesperson said: “The Executive recently committed to provide £286.8million in additional funding in order to deliver the actions in the ERAP, including £145million for the High Street Stimulus Scheme and £2million for the Holiday at Home Scheme.

STIMULATE

“The schemes will be launched at a time when it is safe and appropriate to stimulate demand and encourage the public to shop on the high street and use local tourism providers. Full details will be provided in due course.”

Speaking this week, Mrs Dodds said working together to rebuild Northern Ireland’s economy will make it stronger and ensure businesses are resilient, innovative, sustainable and competitive.

She set out the vision at a virtual stakeholder event where she discussed the plan.

It contains 147 actions across four key themes – a greener economy, R&D and innovation, a highly skilled and agile workforce, and investment, trade and exports.

Mrs Dodds added: “Economic recovery can only be delivered through collaboration and partnership – we must all work together. My plan sets out a range of decisive actions that will help us to deliver a more competitive, inclusive and greener economy – one that will support our people into new and better jobs.”