Stormont ministers have agreed a £40million support package for hospitality businesses affected by the latest Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland.
Grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 will be made available to help more than 3,200 hospitality businesses.
Eligible businesses include nightclubs, restaurants, cafes, coffee shops, bistros, snack bars, pubs/bars, social clubs or private members' clubs. Sports clubs are not eligible.
The Executive had faced criticism for agreeing new restrictions on Wednesday without announcing an accompanying financial package.
Nightclubs will close from Boxing Day and from December 27 hospitality venues must only offer table service, with no more than six people allowed to sit together at a table.
The devolved administration currently has around £200million of funding available to respond to the Omicron variant threat, including £100million recently committed by the Treasury.
The £40million scheme was agreed by First Minister Paul Givan and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill by way of urgent procedure and without the need for an Executive meeting.
The grants will be allocated related to the net annual value (Nav) of businesses' estimated rental value - the same system used to assess rates bills.
Businesses with a Nav up to £15,000 will be eligible for £10,000 grants. Businesses with a Nav between £15,000 to £51,000 will be eligible for £15,000 while those with a Nav over £51,000 can claim £20,000.
Finance Minister Conor Murphy, whose department is taking the lead in developing the latest grant scheme, outlined the details on Twitter.
He said: "As our society and economy once again face huge challenges @dptfinance will deliver an Executive agreed support package of £40m for over 3,000 hospitality businesses.
"Grants of between £10k and £20k will be delivered by Land & Property Services."
Mr Givan said: "This is a demonstration of our commitment to supporting the hospitality industry and those workers who are being impacted by the current challenges around Covid.
"The Executive will continue to look at what other measures can be put in place to support other parts of the economy that have been impacted during this time."
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