Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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410. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of trading online vouchers awarded in each county from 2014 to 2016 to date; and the amount that was awarded in each instance. [32835/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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My Department’s Trading Online Voucher Scheme offers a financial incentive of up to €2,500 (subject to match funding), along with training, mentoring and networking support, to help small and micro enterprises to trade online.

The Scheme is administered by the national network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices, and since its launch in July 2014, some 2,600 applicants have been approved for a voucher.  Of these, some 1,500 business-owners have drawn down their grant assistance, having successfully completed their projects to trade online, with the average payment amounting to approximately €1,800.  In addition, over 5,600 business owners have benefitted from expert advice and peer-to-peer support through participation in one of the 270 or so information seminars delivered by the Local Enterprise Offices under the Scheme.

The Scheme is helping to revitalise small businesses, including sole traders, from across a wide range of sectors including retail, arts, crafts and design, manufacturing, food, and professional services.  The roll-out of vouchers continues nationwide, and I have allocated €3m in funding for the Scheme in 2017.

The detailed information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.