Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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55. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if supports such as the online retail scheme and the trading online scheme will be subject to review given the increased pressures on small and medium enterprises arising from international uncertainty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21203/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Online Retail Scheme was introduced in 2018 as part of the ongoing work of the Retail Forum. From 2018 to 2023, more than 850 projects from retailers were approved for €30.7 million in funding through seven rounds of competitive calls, including two pilot rounds of the Online Retail Scheme. Retailers awarded funding under the Scheme operated across a broad spectrum of sectors including jewellery, fashion, sports, home-ware and furniture, healthcare, electrical goods and equipment and were based all across the country.

While there are no plans to introduce a new call of the Online Retail Scheme currently, my Department provides a wide range of digital supports designed to help small businesses, including retailers, through the network of Local Enterprise Offices.

Last September, my Department introduced the Grow Digital Voucher. This offer is available to more businesses compared to the Trading Online Voucher. In addition, the funding available has been increased to up to €5,000 to any small business with up to 50 employees, with no sector exclusions. The Trading Online Voucher was limited to businesses with up to 10 employees and certain sectors were not eligible.

The Grow Digital Voucher reflects the importance of digitalisation for all businesses and includes a wide variety of digital interventions, to support businesses on their digitalisation journey, and to contribute to the target in the National Digital Strategy of 90% basic digital intensity for SMEs by 2030.

Eligible expenditure includes e-commerce software, e-invoicing software, cybersecurity software, as well as analytics software including Artificial Intelligence systems. Website development subscriptions are also supported.

The Trading Online Voucher closed for new applications on 13th December 2024.

As a prerequisite to the Grow Digital Voucher, businesses must avail of the Digital for Business scheme. This consultancy helps businesses to prepare and implement a plan for the adoption of digital tools and techniques across the business. A digital consultant can help small businesses analyse their existing digital systems and identify any potential gaps in these systems, explore opportunities to optimise existing systems, and provide guidance on how to implement new or enhanced digital solutions. This consultancy is provided free and at no cost to the business.