Louise O'Reilly
Question:451. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cost of increasing funding for the Digital Start Initiative by 10%, 20% and 50%. [27582/23]
View answerTuesday, 13 June 2023
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Written answers
Digital Start is designed to help businesses prepare and implement a plan for the adoption of digital tools and techniques across the business. Digital Start will provide strategic intervention for businesses to work with third party consultants to:
• assist them in identifying where they are on their digital business journey,
• develop a digital adaptation plan based on their identified need,
• implement their digital adaptation plan.
Digital Start may be used to obtain digital strategy, technical and/or advisory service from approved providers. The maximum value of the Digital Start support per applicant business is €4,500 incl. VAT, which equates to approximately 4 days of consultancy. There is no applicant contribution. Digital Start is open to businesses in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors, including those with up to 50 employees. There were 137 Digital Start projects approved in 2022.
The budget in 2023 is €982,900 which if increased by:
• 10% would be €1,081,190
• 20% would be €1,179,480
• 50% would be €1,474,350.