Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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103. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the targets that are in place for SMEs to achieve basic digital intensity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22086/23]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As outlined in the White Paper on Enterprise, digital transformation is at the heart of our enterprise policy. It is vital that all businesses - no matter how big or small - take steps to digitalise and take advantage of the gains in terms of productivity, competitiveness, efficiencies and opening up new markets for embracing digital technologies.

This is particularly important for our SMEs. We know that there is a two-speed economy in terms of digitalisation. While a small proportion of the enterprise base has fully embraced digitalisation, there is a need to accelerate and enhance digital adoption right across Irish businesses.

This is why our National Digital Strategy has a strand dedicated to driving the digitalisation of all enterprise. This includes driving a step change in digital adoption across enterprise, in particular among SMEs.

By 2030, our target is for 90% of Irish SMEs to achieve at least a basic level of digital intensity. According to the 2022 Digital Economy and Society Index, 64% of Irish SMEs had a basic level of digital intensity which is above the EU average of 55%.

We are ambitious to drive this level even higher. To do this we have a number of funding schemes that will facilitate digitalisation including the Digital Transition Fund, the Online Retail Scheme, Digital Start and the Trading Online Voucher. Work is also underway in my Department along with Enterprise Ireland, to develop the new Digital Portal. This will be available to all businesses to self assess what stage of digitalisation they are at and give tailored advice on steps they can take to access funding and training to support their digitalisation journey.