Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there are any grants or assistance to help small rural businesses in counties Cavan or Monaghan avail of higher speed broadband connections to make running a business from home feasible. [38305/16]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland through a combination of commercial investment by the telecommunications sector and a State intervention in those areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated. Of the 42,372 addresses in County Cavan, over 24,000  are  to be included in the State Intervention Area. In County Monaghan about 19,500 of the 33,465 addresses are earmarked for State Intervention. 

The Department is now in a formal procurement process for the State Intervention.  

Separately, my Department’s Trading Online Voucher Scheme is specifically designed to support small and micro enterprises to trade online. As the digital economy grows, it is essential that the benefits are felt in every city, provincial town and rural area. Through training, mentoring and networking, coupled with financial support, the scheme is helping small businesses to grow and diversify their markets.  

Some 2,700 small businesses, including 31 businesses in County Cavan and 46 businesses in County Monaghan have, to date, successfully applied for a trading online voucher. Furthermore, 6,000 or so businesses have benefitted from training and advice delivered by the Local Enterprise Offices under the scheme.

According to surveys of the enterprise impacts of the scheme, businesses grow on average by 21%, employ 35% more people and 60% export for the first time. Digital trade is contributing to sustainable regional economic development, with urban and rural based businesses benefitting equally from the online opportunity.

In the recent Budget, I secured €3m for the continuation of the scheme in 2017. I am also looking at ways to build on the success of the scheme, putting Ireland further ahead of our European counterparts in realising the benefits of selling goods and services online.