Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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87. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of support provided under the trading online voucher scheme in County Cork; the number of recipients since the scheme transferred to his Department 12 months ago; if the scheme will be run in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60674/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The Trading Online Voucher Scheme offers a fifty per cent co-funded voucher of up to €2,500 to help businesses, which have been trading for at least 6 months, to develop their online trading capability. It includes training sessions that cover various topics, including developing a website, digital marketing, social media for business and search engine optimisation.

The Trading Online Voucher Scheme has been a crucial support for businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and will continue to assist businesses with digitalisation and developing their online presence.

Between 1st January 2021 when the scheme transferred to my Department, and 1st December 2021, the Trading Online Voucher Scheme had a total of 4,306 approvals across Ireland to a value in excess of €9.3 million. This includes a total of 481 applicants approved for payment in County Cork to a value of €1,030,184. This is strong evidence of the success of the scheme and the demand for the vouchers across the micro-enterprise sector.

The Trading Online Voucher Scheme continues to build and strengthen the online presence of micro enterprises, which has been underpinned by the phenomenal uptake of the scheme in 2020 when small businesses pivoted to online sales.

There were a total of 12,946 approvals across Ireland to a value of €30,774,904. It is important to note that the scheme allows previous voucher recipients to apply for a second voucher.

The Trading Online Voucher Scheme was of huge importance to the survival of many local businesses during the pandemic.

I am satisfied that the Trading Online Voucher Scheme will continue to be a key component in the suite of interventions to assist micro-enterprises to develop and flourish in the years ahead.