Ollie Crowe (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I sincerely thank Mr. Clancy and Mr. McElwee for their contributions this morning. I commend the work that has been done by Enterprise Ireland and the Network of Local Enterprise Offices. For obvious reasons, LEO-supported companies had an extremely difficult 2020. However, the bounce-back in 2021 was very impressive for companies backed by Enterprise Ireland and local enterprise offices. Achieving positive figures in job creation over the course of Covid-19 deserves great credit.

The Galway local enterprise office, which is based in the Galway County Council offices on Prospect Hill, helped to create well in excess of 200 jobs. That is a significant number, especially during difficult circumstances. I highlight the excellent work that is done by Breda Fox and her team.

The trading online voucher scheme, which the LEO offices ran, was particularly helpful and provided vital support for SMEs. Obviously, online trading has been increasing annually for a long time. That trend does not seem to be slowing down. I know of a number of businesses in west Galway and Galway city that use the scheme. They were extremely grateful for the support. From speaking to business owners, and I could cite various cases, I learned that the local enterprise office was very helpful and went above and beyond the call. It is important to acknowledge that because public representatives, including me, are often critical. During the pandemic, when owners looked for assistance LEO staff went to extreme measures to help. They supported business throughout the period.

Having said that, a significant number of businesses need to make the transition and enhance their digital platforms. In the strategic ambition of the statement, there is an objective to provide 5,000 online trading vouchers up to 2026. I appreciate that considerable work has been done already, with over 17,500 businesses being supported over the past two years. However, it appears that many businesses would still use the scheme, including perhaps some which are not aware of it. Could more outreach efforts be made to ensure all SMEs are aware of the scheme? If there is a greater demand, is the budget available to go beyond the objective of providing 5,000 online vouchers?