NI high street £100 voucher site opens for shoppers to "spend local"
Posted on in Business News , Cycles News , Political News
Ireland's high street voucher scheme is now open to everyone aged 18 and over to apply online for a £100 "spend local" card to use in shops before the end of November.
However, there were problems with the application page on the NI Direct site after it opened on Monday morning.
Economy Minister Gordon Lyons said "not everybody has to rush at once" to it.
Some people have complained on social media that the website had crashed them while others said they had not received a verification message after entering their email address.
Mr Lyons acknowledged there was "huge demand".
He said the verification messages were being sent "in a staged process just to make sure the website isn't overwhelmed all at once".
"There is a card available for everyone that is eligible so I would encourage people to apply for that over the coming weeks," he said.
The cards are expected to arrive between seven and 10 days after you apply.
They can be used in any shop with a card machine but cannot be used online or for gambling or legal services like penalties.
A phone application service will open on 11 October for anyone who does not have access to the internet.
The online and phone application processes will remain open until 25 October.
The £145m scheme is designed to boost activity in businesses hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, like non-essential retail and hospitality.
Applications to the High Street Spend Local Scheme can be made through this page on the NI Direct website.