I propose to take Questions Nos. 769 to 776, inclusive, 778 and 791 together.
The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is funded by my Department and delivered nationwide in partnership with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Enterprise Ireland, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The Scheme offers skills training, mentoring and a grant of up to €2,500 to help small and micro-businesses to develop their ecommerce capability.
New flexibilities to the Scheme were introduced on 8 April 2020 including reducing the requirement for co-funding from 50% to 10% and allowing businesses to apply for a second voucher of up to €2,500 where they have successfully utilised their first one. In addition funding for the Scheme was increased from €2.3m to €5.6m. There has been a positive response to these changes and significant uptake of the Scheme.
On 8 June further funding of €14.2m, including an allocation of €0.6m for Údarás na Gaeltachta, was announced for the Scheme bringing the total funding allocation in 2020 to €19.8m.
My Department continues to engage with the respective departments and agencies regarding demand for the Scheme.