Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to raise the issue of a survey that was carried out that showed, for the first time ever, that a majority of retail purchases by Irish customers were made online. Research by the Central Statistics Office, CSO, from 2019, shows that clothes or sports goods were the most popular online purchases, followed by holiday accommodation and other travel arrangements such as travel tickets and car hire. That is obviously a different world. While the impact of the pandemic on shopping habits is not fully known, it is safe to say that the type of products and services purchased online this year will have expanded, although differently.

This has pros and cons for businesses but it also has ramifications for town and village centres and even our city centres. Previous research has shown that anything up to 70% of the online spend leaves Ireland. That means a loss of revenue to the State but, more importantly, it means devastating losses to Irish businesses. We should remember that Irish businesses, unlike some of the largest global ones, operate to the highest standards in terms of health and safety, and employee welfare.

The Government, both this one and previous ones, expanded supports and introduced new ones. Supports like the trading online voucher scheme, the restart grant and the Covid-19 online retail scheme have all helped. The latest round of the Covid-19 online retail scheme was announced yesterday by the Minister of State at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy English. I was delighted to see a dozen Galway businesses among the recipients. With funding of between €16,000 and €40,000, this funding is helping businesses in Galway, Mayo and throughout the country to expand their online presence, compete and, it is hoped, win business. However, there are many more businesses - less well-known businesses - that need support to overcome this existential threat.

I know the Tánaiste, Deputy Varadkar, and the Minister of State, Deputy English, are acutely aware of the pressure on Irish retailers throughout the country and are working on targeted supports. However, the situation is evolving rapidly, as can be seen by the recent research. For several years we have been working hard to revitalise and regenerate city, town and village centres. A vibrant retail sector is at the centre of these efforts. Walking around any city, town or village centre at the moment, the permanent closure of once thriving businesses is a painful sight, and this has been exacerbated, obviously, by Covid. I call on the Leader for a debate at the earliest opportunity on our town centres with the Ministers responsible for business and planning.