Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson has welcomed news students are set to receive a £500 payment to help alleviate some of the disruption Covid-19 has caused.

Speaking after the Economy Minister Diane Dodds made the announcement today, Mr Dickson said that while it would be a welcome result for students everywhere, there remained too many groups without financial aid.

He added: “It is great to see this scheme come forward, to aid students who face large bills this year, for universities they can’t access and rent for homes they can’t travel to. This will be a welcome relief to many.

“This is something I have raised on many occasions, as students fell into the pool of people who had been ignored to date. Concerns remain around the large amount of money the Economy Department has yet to allocate and which could end up being returned to the Treasury.

“Alliance will continue to push for the excluded to become included and would encourage the Economy Minister to address those who have so far gone ignored.”