Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 October 2017
55. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of applications for and the number of businesses taking part in the trading online voucher scheme, which is part of the national digital strategy in County Offaly, by year since its introduction. [41788/17]
View answerThe Trading Online Voucher Scheme, designed and funded by my Department, is delivered on a nationwide basis by the Local Enterprise Offices, LEO. Applications are received directly by individual LEOs who award vouchers of up to €2,500 matched funding to qualifying businesses on a competitive basis, following evaluation by an expert panel. Successful applicants are expected to complete their trading online project within four months, subsequent to which grants can be drawn down, following standard verification procedures. My Department does not hold information on the number of applications to the scheme.
The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is a demand-led scheme. Prospective applicants must attend an information session organised by the LEO prior to application to the scheme. This is designed to equip the business with some expert advice on how to think digitally for its business and to support the development of its trading online proposal.
The following table provides information on the number of attendees at information sessions and the number of applications approved under the scheme in Offaly from 2014 to date.
|
Year |
2014 (July to Dec) |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 to date |
|
No. of attendees at information sessions/one-to-one mentoring |
25 |
3 |
36 |
23 |
|
No. of applications approved (businesses which have completed or are in the process of completing their trading online project). |
6 |
24 |
14 |
12 |
