Mr. Padraic McElwee:

I might pick up on the online vouchers. I covered it quite well but the Senator touched on an important point about the empty units in some of our towns and villages and the impact of online trading. Our colleagues in the north east, in Louth, Cavan and that area, have done a pilot programme on how we might be able to work to support the retail sector. We will evaluate the outcome of that programme and that is something we might be able to lend further support to. All LEOs work with the local chambers of commerce to see how they can help that sector. It is important that online trading is another complementary channel and it is not one or the other. That is part of the educational message we are putting out; we are saying to companies that online is just another way to make it easy for people to buy from them. It goes back to town centre renewal. While there are many challenges, the supports are there and it is a case of evaluating and seeing how best we support it. I am optimistic.