To ask the Minister of Finance what steps his Department is taking to ascertain that the person or business applying for the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme is the same person named on the rates bill for the business.

For every application to the Localised Restrictions Support Scheme, Land & Property Services checks the rate account to confirm that the applicant is the rated occupier of the property.

If there is a discrepancy, LPS carries out investigations to determine if the applicant is an eligible occupier.

If the rate account is in a landlord’s name, or LPS records show the property as being vacant, the applicant is asked for a lease or rental agreement and LPS carries out internet searches to verify that the business is occupying the property.

In the case of shared space applications, the eligible business is unlikely to be the named ratepayer. Before an award is made, it is necessary for that business to prove they are occupying a defined separate area and operate as a completely separate business. LPS also use internet searches in this scenario to determine that the business does operate from the premises.