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<p>The UK Government is committed to levelling up and promoting economic growth across
the whole of the UK to ensure that no community is left behind, particularly as we
recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has already taken
steps to support individuals and businesses in Northern Ireland by providing £3.8bn
funding to the Executive to help fight coronavirus.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, Northern
Ireland businesses and individuals have benefited from UK-wide support measures such
as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme
which have both been extended to September 2021. The UK Government has also provided
over £1.3bn in government-backed loan schemes to businesses in Northern Ireland, protecting
jobs across the region.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also driving forward investment
in Northern Ireland. We are delivering a comprehensive and ambitious set of City and
Growth Deals across Northern Ireland, which will help key sectors to flourish, committing
more than £600m to this program. In February, the UK Government signed the Heads of
Terms on the Derry/Londonderry and Strabane City Deal, which will support a range
of projects in the North West region. We are also investing £400m to support the NI
economy through the New Deal for Northern Ireland and have committed over £500m to
the PEACE PLUS programme, which will carry out vital work that promotes peace and
reconciliation and contributes to the cross-border economic and territorial development
of the region.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also recently announced the creation
of several new funds, which will create opportunities for further investment in people,
communities and infrastructure. This includes the UK Community Renewal Fund, the Levelling
Up Fund and the Community Ownership Fund, each of which, organisations in Northern
Ireland will be able to bid into specific funding.</p><p> </p><p>All of this additional
funding comes on top of £2bn of support for the New Decade, New Approach Agreement
and measures to help traders navigate new arrangements as part of the Northern Ireland/Ireland
Protocol.</p><p> </p><p>The Government welcomes the Executive’s roadmap to recovery
and we want to see Northern Ireland realise its economic potential. We will continue
to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to maximise opportunities for
economic recovery and growth, both now, in Northern Ireland’s Centenary year, and
in the long-term.</p><p><br></p>
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