To ask the Minister of Finance why cafes and catering facilities within soft play businesses were excluded from the Omicron Hospitality Payment.

The Executive targeted support to the hospitality sector based on evidence put forward by the Department for the Economy that this was the sector which was the most severely affected by changes in consumer behaviour arising from the Omicron wave of the pandemic.

I have listened carefully to the representations made by the owners of soft play businesses and I accept that where this kind of business has a café or food service element as part of their business model, they are in a similar position to the cafés within shops which were eligible for the support.

Therefore, on 8th February I announced that the Omicron Hospitality Payment scheme has been extended to include soft play areas, inflatable parks and trampoline parks which also operate a café facility within the same premises.

Land & Property Services has contacted eligible businesses that received payment under the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme (LRSS), with an e-mail link where they are asked to confirm some relevant information and to complete a declaration. Eligible businesses will receive a one-off payment of £10,000.

Soft play, Inflatable Park or trampoline park business with a café that did not receive support from the LRSS, but who would have been eligible for LRSS based on their circumstances at 21st December 2021 can also make an application for the payment.

Further information about the Omicron Hospitality Payment scheme at Coronavirus: Omicron Hospitality Payment (nibusinessinfo.co.uk)