I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 194 together.
The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is a demand-led scheme which aims to deliver 1,000 businesses trading online each year with minor fluctuations in throughput expected in a demand-led scheme. The scheme has the flexibility to approve applications in excess of the target, should the demand exist.
The following table gives a breakdown on an annual basis of the number of businesses that have been approved for a Trading Online Voucher under the scheme.
Year
|
No. of Vouchers Approved by Local Enterprise Offices
|
2014
|
593
|
2015
|
1,184
|
2016
|
1,154
|
2017 to end Sept
|
881
|
The lower output in 2014 was due to the commencement of the scheme in July 2014. The scheme is on target to deliver a further 1,000 businesses trading online by the end of 2017. In addition, over 9,000 businesses have so far benefited from training and mentoring under the scheme.
€3 million in funding has been allocated for the continuation of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme in 2018.