Investment Minister Arlene Foster revealed five letters of offer of Direct financial Assitance were made to the firm by Invest NI and its legacy agencies since 1985. Whilst 3,804,564 in taxpayers money was promised just 3,588,282 has been paid to date. But the Londonderry-based firm also benefitted from a Business Health Check in 2005 (4,469) and an Accelerated Support Fund Diagnostic in 2009 (4,500). The Minister advised that the assistance is not subject to claw-back or recovery as the company has fulfilled all its obligations under the various letters of offer. One hundred and fifteen workers at the plant were earlier this month told that they were entering a 90 day collective consultation on the possible closure of the company, following meetings between local management and the German parent company last week. Mrs Foster agreed with management’s assessment of the situation and blamed the “continued downturn in global demand” across the Optibelt group for the situation. She also stated that Invest NI would do everything it could do to intervene where possible. The Minister stated: “The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment through its economic development agency, Invest NI have been in close liaison with Arntz Belting. “They will continue to liaise and remain committed to doing everything within their remit to intervene where possible.”