Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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182. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the supports that are available for retail businesses that require financial support and assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30110/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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With over 300,000 people employed in the sector, retail is the largest private sector employer in the country supporting jobs in every city, town, and village.

My Department provides a range of tailored supports for businesses of all sizes including retail businesses.

Digitalisation is no longer an option, or solely a route to innovation but an essential business step for future proofing businesses and building resilience. Retail, like all businesses must adapt to the drive for digitalisation.

The Online Retail Scheme, introduced by my Department was established to assist companies in the indigenous retail sector who have already started an online journey, to enhance and strengthen their existing online presence. The Scheme, administered by Enterprise Ireland, provides direct financial support to retail companies with more than 10 employees to develop a more competitive online business offering to complement their in-store offering.

A new Call of the Online Retail Scheme, with a total available fund of €9.3m, was announced on 5^thMay and closed at midday on 1^stJune.

In 2020, my Department launched the COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme in response to the COVID-19 crisis and the urgent need for retail companies to increase their online capability. Under the COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme €18.2m in funding was provided to over 500 retailers from all across the country in the categories of jewellery, fashion, sports, homeware, furniture, healthcare, hardware, electrical goods and equipment.

Prior to the COVID-19 Online Retail Scheme, 40 retailers across Ireland were provided €894,634 in funding over two calls of the pilot Online Retail Scheme. The pilot Online Scheme was introduced to enable retailers to increase their customer base and build a more resilient business.

The Online Retail Scheme is complementary to the €2,500 Trading Online Voucher scheme, provided through the Local Enterprise Offices for companies with up to 10 employees. While this scheme is not solely for the retail sector it assists retailers to begin their online trading journey.

The Trading Online Voucher Scheme (TOVs) administered by the Local Enterprise Offices offers a voucher of up to €2,500 (50% co- funded by the applicant) to help businesses develop their online trading capability and includes training sessions that cover various topics, including developing a website, digital marketing, social media for business and search engine optimisation. The Scheme is open to a broad base of businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

From the 1^stof January to the 9^thof June 2022, the LEOs have approved 801 Trading Online Vouchers, to a value of €1,680,641.27.

The retail sector, like all other sectors is challenged to adapt to climate transition.

The Green For Micro scheme run by the Local Enterprise Offices is assisting small businesses in gaining an increased understanding of actions which can improve their energy efficiency through the Green for Micro programme. It offers green transition advice and technical support to a wide range of micro-enterprises with 10 or fewer employees, including those operating in the retail sector. This support is free of charge for eligible enterprises and represents the potential for increased efficiencies within companies that adopt these principles.

The full range of supports offered by my Department and across Government for businesses, including retailers, can be found on Which support is for you? - DETE (enterprise.gov.ie).

The Government will continue to address the needs of the sector and engage with retailers through the Retail Forum, which I chair as Minister of State for Employment, Business and Retail.