Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
21. Deputy James Lawless asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the funding being provided under the Digital Transition Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52658/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraEmbracing digital technologies is crucial for our post pandemic economic recovery.
A competitive, innovative and resilient enterprise base is essential to provide high-quality jobs and employment opportunities for people to live and prosper in all regions. Businesses can harness digital technology in many ways – to understand their customers better, to reduce their costs and to improve their products.
To boost the uptake of digital technology in enterprises, we have set up the Digital Transition Fund as part of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan. This is an €85 million multi-annual fund which will run until 2026. Under Budget 2022, we allocated €10 million to the Digital Transition Fund. Through the Digital Transition Fund, we will increase digitalisation of all businesses across products, processes, supply chains and business models. This will bring about productivity gains, access to new markets, increased innovation and improved competitiveness.
The Funding will be used to help companies at all stages of their digital journey – from the early days of simply going online to digitalisation of products and business processes, to facilitating exporting and to using digital technologies to develop new markets and business models.
Officials in my Department are currently developing the funding scheme along with Enterprise Ireland and I anticipate that the first call will be announced by mid-2022.
