Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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20. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans in place to support retailers across Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42714/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As Chair of the Retail Consultation Forum I am committed to understanding and supporting the needs of the retail sector.

My Department established and convenes the Retail Consultation Forum to enable key issues affecting the retail sector to be discussed, with a view to identifying practical actions which could be taken by Government, or by industry itself, to support sustainable jobs growth in the sector.

As the largest private sector employer in the country (90% Irish-owned) that supports jobs in every city, town and village in the country I understand the importance of the retail sector.

When I met with the Retail Consultation Forum in September I launched a new pilotscheme– theOnline Retail Scheme delivered by Enterprise Ireland and a Brexit Preparedness Leafletthat provides a summary of supports and resources availablespecifically for retail businesses. I would like to highlight the pilot Online Retail Scheme which came about because of a Forum Working Group on the issue of the Digital Economy. My Department has worked closely with the Forum over the past two years to develop this scheme in line with the needs of the sector. Other examples of supports that have evolved in this way include; The Framework for Town Centre Renewal, the Energy Efficiency Workshop and the development of relevant courses with Skillnet to support the Skills and Capability agenda. Work continues in these areas with the Forum members.

Brexit Preparedness is a standing item on the Agenda for meetings of the Retail Consultation Forum. Officials from my Department and other Departments, and independent Brexit experts attend meetings of the Forum to provide updates and inform members on supports available. Firm level supports are available via the Brexit Loan Scheme and the Inter Trade Ireland Vouchers.

I would also like to take this opportunity to reference the supports in place through the LEOs such as the Trading Online Voucher, and other soft supports such as training and mentoring, that are applicable to the retail sector and this includes retailers employing more than 10 people. As part of Budget 2019, I announced the roll-out of a new Customs Training Programme which will be rolled out across the LEO’s in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland. This will be available to the retail sector.