Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 November 2018
105. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if the new online retail scheme administered by Enterprise Ireland will be made available to Irish-owned micro-sized firms with fewer than ten employees in the retail sector in order to enhance their online presence. [47658/18]
View answerAs Chair of the Retail Consultation Forum, I am aware of growth in online retailing and understand the need for the retail sector to develop its online capability and enhance its competitiveness. In 2017, data from the CSO showed that 66% of Irish enterprises in the Wholesale and Retail Sector reported having a website or homepage, with only 28% able to facilitate online ordering.
The Retail Consultation Forum enables key issues affecting the retail sector to be discussed, with a view to identifying practical actions which could be taken by Government, or by industry itself, to support sustainable job growth in the sector. The new pilot Online Retail Scheme, administered by Enterprise Ireland for my Department, is a result of the work of the Forum's Working Group on the Digital Economy. My Department has worked closely with the Forum over the past two years to develop this scheme in line with the needs of the sector.
The new pilot Online Retail Scheme was launched in September with a fund of up to €625,000, which was later doubled to €1.25m as part of Budget 2019. The competitive Scheme is aimed at retail businesses who are ready to strategically grow their online capability and will support qualifying retail businesses of 20 employees or more with grants ranging from €10,000 to €25,000 on a 50% match funding basis. Successful applicants under the scheme may use the grant funding to support activities including research, strategy development, implementation and training. The first call was opened on 24th October 2018. The call will close on 5th December 2018 at 3pm.
The new Enterprise Ireland Online Retail Scheme is not available to companies with less than 20 employees. This is a pilot scheme, the purpose of which is to test and assess the potential impact of such a project. The nature of the scheme requires suitably qualified businesses who have the capability and ambition to adopt new business models and grow internationally. Peer-learning will be integral to the scheme, and participants will share their experiences with a view to shaping the scheme for the future. The full details of the Scheme are published on the Enterprise Ireland website.
The Local Enterprise Office (LEOs) are the first-stop-shop for anyone who wishes to start or expand a business, in terms of advice, training, sign posting to other support providers and, in certain circumstances, grant support. The LEOs offer a range of supports to assist Irish owned micro-sized firms to trade online including the Trading Online Voucher Scheme.
The Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVS), supported by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and delivered through the LEOs offers matched financial assistance of up to €2,500 aimed at getting micro businesses (those employing 10 people or less) trading online. The voucher is supported with training and advice. Since the start of the scheme in July 2014 to the 30th June this year, over 4,600 micro enterprises have availed of TOVs.
The LEOs also offer a wide range of short training programmes to support their clients in building their online presence and to compete in the online marketplace. These programmes focus on different elements including; Marketing, Social Media, eCommerce Sales Strategy and Search Engine Optimisation.
