John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

To refer back to the voucher scheme, it does offer financial assistance of approximately €2,500. It might be slightly more than that. I am not too sure. However, along with the financial assistance, it also offers advice and help to put businesses online. There are experts available to give advice to businesses. All I can say to the Deputy in respect of the voucher scheme is that it seems to be working pretty well and that the numbers involved have been increasing year on year. An assessment was carried out in respect of businesses which have participated in the scheme. As I told the Deputy, this assessment showed that their sales increased by 20%. I know that there is a lot more we can do, and we are attempting to do more. The Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, selected Roscommon for a series of regional workshops on online trading for business owners. It is planned to take place in the next 12 months and will work its way around the country. It will be working with the local enterprise office in Roscommon.

I share the Deputy's concern about the impact of online retailing and other emerging factors on the high street, but we need to remember that, first of all, buyers and consumers look for easy access, product availability and value for money. This is all to do with competition. It is very difficult for us as a Government to take one side or another in a competitive section of the economy. I admit and accept that, as I said in my opening remarks, one in every seven people in employment in Ireland is working in the retail sector, the vast majority of these in small businesses. There is no question that we have to do what we can as a Government to help and support small businesses. We have introduced the Brexit loan scheme, we have retained the 9% hospitality VAT rate and we continue to reform the income tax system to put more money into people's pockets. There are efforts being made. All I can tell the Deputy on the voucher scheme is that it is working exceptionally well. Many businesses have taken it up but I accept that there is a lot more to do.

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