East Belfast MLA Andy Allen has urged the Minister for the Economy to work with the spend local provider to offer a remedy for those who didn’t receive their spend local card or who encountered problems trying to use their card.

Mr Allen said:

“For some time now I have been calling on the Minister for the Economy to detail the remedy options he intends to bring forward for those who didn’t receive their spend local card or encountered problems trying to use them. To date, the Minister, Gordon Lyons MLA, has not offered any update on the remedy options despite the scheme closing over a month ago. 

“I have received an answer to a written question I tabled to the Minister which has revealed the contract with the card provider remains in place until July 2022 unless terminated early. Therefore, this should offer the facility to the Department to identify and issue cards to those who didn’t receive in the first instance or those who experienced problems trying to use them.

“I would have thought that five months should be ample time to resolve what should be a relatively small number of outstanding cases. The Minister must provide clarity as a matter of urgency.”