Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

16. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of training courses in 2014 provided to assist companies to trade online; the discussions held in this regard; his views that the target under the Action Plan for Jobs in respect of businesses trading online will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48138/14]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In July 2014, my Department launched a national Trading Online Voucher Scheme, following a successful pilot in the Dublin area. The scheme is a key initiative under the Government’s National Digital Strategy and the Action Plan for Jobs.

The changes in consumption patterns and citizen behaviour that come with the online revolution are affecting all Irish businesses. Irish consumers are now spending more than €6 billion online every year. Yet, less than a third of this spend goes to Irish retailers, and only 23% of small Irish companies have engaged in online sales.

To address this challenge and working in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office network, the Trading Online Voucher Scheme aims to get 2,000 small and micro businesses trading online by the end of this year. This targeted initiative has the capacity to bring new sustainable jobs to all parts of Ireland: directly for the businesses that participate, and indirectly for those who supply them with expertise, training, hosting and logistics services.

The scheme offers financial assistance of up to €2,500, matched by the qualifying business, for investments in a digital component of their business. Initial allocations of Trading Online Vouchers were made in 2014 to the 31 Local Enterprise Offices. By end 2014, some 550 businesses were awarded a voucher under the scheme. Rollout of the vouchers will continue in 2015 and a number of awareness raising initiatives, including the development of online resources, are planned to drive its momentum.

The Trading Online Voucher Scheme was informed by learnings from other schemes in the marketplace which have sought to incentivise small businesses to get online, including Google’s Getting Irish Business Online and Dublin Chamber of Commerce Activating Dublin as well as the pilot phase of the scheme. Such initiatives pointed to the value of including a training element in the scheme to help businesses to understand the opportunities of digital and how best to adapt it for their business.

An information session forms an important part of the application process for a trading online voucher. It provides support to prospective applicants who have little knowledge of the internet or its potential to help them access new markets and create jobs. It assists business owners and managers in their application by encouraging them to think strategically about enhancing the digital capability of their business.

Under the scheme, 53 information sessions were held nationwide in 2014. This intervention in advance of an application to the scheme has resulted in an increase in the quality of the applications received by the Local Enterprise Offices which in turn is expected to enhance the impact of the vouchers on the businesses who receive them.

The scheme is on target to reach 2,000 businesses by the end of the year in line with the commitments in the National Digital Strategy and the Action Plan for Jobs.