Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2021
102. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the support provided under the online retail scheme; if the scheme will run in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60496/21]
View answerAs the largest private sector employer, and a key element in providing for the needs of society and indeed other sectors of the economy, it is vital that retail continues to develop capability and remain competitive.
Trading online is a very important route for retail businesses to grow and improve and will be an important element in their recovery over the longer term. I welcome the significant progress made by the retail sector in Ireland to move to online commerce over the past 18 months.
To enable retailers to increase their customer base and build a more resilient business, my Department initially launched a pilot Online Retail Scheme, in 2018.
40 retailers across Ireland were provided €894,636 in funding over two calls of the pilot Scheme, with grants of between €10,000 and €25,000 on a 50 percent match fund basis.
In 2020, my Department launched the COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme in response to the COVID-19 crisis and the urgent need for retail companies to increase their online capability.
The COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme is helping companies in the indigenous retail sector who have already started an online journey, to enhance and strengthen their existing online presence.
This will help them to respond to both domestic and international consumer demand competitively.
To date the COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme has provided funding of €18.2m to 503 retailers under three calls, bringing the total approved to over €19m.
I am committed to supporting the needs of the retail sector, through the Retail Forum, which I chair, in developing their online capability and enhancing their competitiveness. The Online Retail Schemes to date are being reviewed and it is my intention to open a further round of applications for funding in 2022.
The Deputy will also be aware of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, administered by the Local Enterprise Office network on behalf of my department. This scheme was transferred into my Department at the start of this year
In 2020 the scheme attracted 17,315 applications and 12,984 approvals to a value of €30.6m and between 1st January and 1st December this year there have been 4,306 approvals to a value of €9,323,886.
The scheme offers a voucher of up to €2,500 (50% co-funded by the applicant) to help businesses develop their online trading capability.
It includes training sessions, including developing a website, digital marketing, social media for business and search engine optimisation.
While not exclusively for the retail sector it provides significant assistance to retailers to start to trade online.
