Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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269. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of companies who have participated in the digital for business consultancy scheme in each year since it was established to date in 2025; the cost of the scheme in each year; the number of companies targeted to participate in the scheme in 2026; and his plans to expand the focus or scope of the scheme. [68949/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Digital for Business programme was introduced as a pilot in 2022 under the name Digital Start. It is designed to help small businesses prepare and implement a plan for the adoption of digital tools and technology across their business. It offers up to three days of consultancy with a digital expert to help identify where these businesses are on their digital journey, then develop and implement a digital adoption plan to meet their specified need.

Due to positive feedback and the need for businesses to identify immediate benefits to digitalisation, the Digital for Business programme is now a prerequisite of the Grow Digital Voucher. This allows business owners to better identify the digital intervention their business needs and provides them with financial assistance to implement it.

The number of companies who have participated in the digital for business since it was established to date in 2025 and the value of the approvals in each year is set out in the table below:

Digital for Business approvals and costs 2022 - 2025

**the figures reported for YTD are preliminary figures only and a full report on the LEO uptake of supports will not be performed until mid Q1 2026. (Figures provided - 01.01.2025 to 30.11.2025)

Since its introduction this support has assisted 1,694 small businesses to engage in an assessment of how Digitalisation can help them be more efficient and save them time and money. My Department anticipates a continuing high level of demand by LEO Clients for digitalisation supports and will set an ambitious target in order to meet demand for the Digital for Business programme in 2026.

A review of the full suite of LEO supports and schemes is currently out for tender and recommendations arising this review will be given due consideration and may lead to adjusting the focus or scope of the programme.