Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 31 May 2018
195. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the €5.6 million allocated to the support of small businesses to trade online and fund the provision of digital skills training for persons as outlined in budget 2018; the amount of the allocation that has been spent; the way in which the moneys were spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24223/18]
View answerMy Department's Trading Online Voucher Scheme is a demand-led scheme designed to support micro businesses to develop their online trading capability. The scheme, which is developed and funded by my Department, is delivered throughout Ireland by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs). I have allocated €3 million to support an additional 1,500 businesses to trade online in 2018. So far in 2018, €796,363 has been spent on the scheme. €715,529 has been paid to LEOs in respect of payments to successful applicants under the scheme with an additional €61,831 for delivery of information sessions, promotion and administration costs. A further €11,314 has been paid to Enterprise Ireland which administers the distribution of funding to the LEOs under the scheme. €7,689 has been spent on national promotion of the scheme.
Businesses who successfully apply for a voucher have 4 months to implement their proposal in line with the terms and conditions of the scheme. Payment by the LEO to the business is made on the basis of vouched expenditure following successful implementation of its proposal.
The scheme targets a broad range of businesses including retail, food, professional services, arts and crafts, and manufacturing. Since 2014 over 4,300 businesses have successfully applied and over 10,000 businesses have benefited from training delivered by the Local Enterprise Offices. Businesses, both urban and rural, who participate grow their sales on average by 21%, increase employment by 35% and 3 out of 5 begin exporting for the first time.
The Getting Citizens Online Programme promotes digital adoption among citizens through basic digital skills training for citizens who have never used the internet. Training is targeted at people over 45, farming communities, small business owners, the unemployed, persons with disabilities and disadvantaged groups and is delivered in local communities across every county.
During 2018 my Department is committed to fund 12 community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations to provide 25,000 citizens with 10 hours of free digital skills training, at a cost of over €2.2m. To date in 2018, €690,608 has been paid in accordance with the funding arrangements and provisions of the respective grant agreements.
