Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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65. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the digital voucher uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33163/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Grow Digital Voucher was introduced in 2024, and replaced the Trading Online Voucher, which closed for applications in December 2024. Under this new, improved offer, the funding available has been increased to up to €5,000 and the eligibility criteria expanded to cover a wider range of digital interventions available to a broader range of businesses compared to the Trading Online Voucher.

Eligible expenditure under the Grow Digital Voucher includes e-commerce software, e-invoicing software, cyber security software, as well as analytics software including Artificial Intelligence systems. The improvements in eligible expenditure for Grow Digital also means that website development subscriptions are also supported. The Grow Digital Voucher is available to all small business with up to 50 employees, across all sectors. The Digital for Business consultancy is the first step for a business to access the Grow Digital Voucher. This scheme helps businesses to prepare and implement a plan for the adoption of digital tools and techniques across the business.

Going digital is critical for small businesses to stay competitive. The digital supports on offer from the Local Enterprise Offices were designed to help small businesses to reach more customers through online sales and marketing and to ensure that they can bridge the digital gap. These supports will ensure that small businesses are being supported in digitalisation and will contribute towards the target of 90% basic digital intensity of enterprise by 2030.

As the Grow Digital Voucher was just recently introduced, it will take some time to gain traction. In 2025, up to the end of May, there have been 78 Grow Digital Voucher applications, with the value of the approvals over €200,000. In the same timeframe, there has been 501 Digital for Business applications, with the value of approvals at over €1.2 million. As the Digital for Business scheme is a pre-requisite to the Grow Digital Voucher, it is expected that applications for the voucher will increase, due to the strong uptake of the Digital for Business scheme.

I would recommend that any small business owner contact their Local Enterprise Office and ask to speak to a Business Adviser who will be able to advise them on what supports are available.