Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 March 2014
167. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has been made on the online voucher scheme for businesses; the level of uptake by businesses in respect of the scheme; the nature of those businesses and their geographical distribution; his plans to advertise the scheme further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11212/14]
View answerThe trading online voucher scheme which I announced in the context of the National Digital Strategy is currently in pilot phase, as planned. The scheme will provide individual qualifying businesses with a voucher of up to €2,500 to be used with the company’s own matching funding for the implementation of a trading online component to their business. The scheme is targeted at those small and micro enterprises, (with less than ten employees and whose annual turnover is less than €2m), who do not have an online presence or at those who are seeking to improve their online offering by adding, or improving, a trading online dimension.
The pilot is being conducted by the Dublin City Enterprise Board (DCEB) in two phases. The first phase involved 25 companies based in the DCEB area. These companies are involved in a diverse range of business activities including retail, wholesale, crafts, design, pharmacy, as well as activity and service products. The companies availing of these vouchers encompass a broad range of product types including clothing, furniture, beauty, training, equipment rental, jewellery, and flowers. Details of the 25 companies successful in securing vouchers in the second phase will be finalised later this month.
€5 million has been provided for the voucher scheme in 2014 in my Department's Vote. Planning is currently underway for the national roll-out of the scheme. When launched, it will be advertised nationally and on the National Digital Strategy web page of my Department's website. It is envisaged that up to 2,000 small businesses will benefit from this initiative from mid-2014. The eligibility criteria that operate in the case of the pilot are available on the DCEB web page at www.dceb.ie/Financial-Assistance/Online-Trading-Voucher and it is likely that very similar criteria will apply for the national scheme. I have also made arrangements for companies who feel that they may be eligible, and would like to be informed when the scheme is being rolled out, to contact my Department at Benefit@dcenr.gov.ie with their name and contact details and my officials will notify them when the national scheme is open for applications.
