Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation further to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 25 April 2013, the way small and medium enterprises may apply for the scheme outlined in his reply; the other practical Government supports to a SME that wishes to create an online presence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20947/13]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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As I outlined in my reply to Question No 87 of 25 April 2013, the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs includes a commitment to increase the number of businesses – and particularly small businesses – trading on line. The progression of this initiative is being led by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

The objective of the initiative is to support one or more pilot projects in 2013 to inform a scaling-up of the initiative in 2014.

The intention is that the detailed operational arrangements for the pilot(s) will be agreed in the third Quarter of this year and that suitable projects for inclusion in the pilot(s) will be agreed within the same period.

I anticipate that once these milestones have been achieved, details of how companies can participate in the pilot scheme(s) will be made available by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.