AQW 16032/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 09/03/2021
Answered On Date: 12/04/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy whether the £500 Covid Disruption Payment must be paid by institutions to students before the end of this financial year.

Answer:

While many Covid Disruption Payments have already issued to students, it is hoped that the remainder will be paid to eligible students by the end of March 2021. Institutions have been working hard to process the payments to students by this date; however, if necessary, outstanding payments can be accrued into the next financial year.

The number of HE students (Level 6+) expected to receive a Covid Disruption Payment is 37,034. In respect of HE in FE students (Levels 4 & 5), budgets were allocated on the basis of 3,360 students.

As the institutions are making the payments themselves, the Department does not hold information regarding the exact number of payments which have been issued to date.