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Factsheet for measure IE-2020-15/795 Updated – measures in Ireland

Trading online voucher scheme

Country Ireland , applies nationwide
Time period Open ended, started on 07 April 2020
Context COVID-19
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Reorientation of business activities
– Creation of platforms for businesses aimed at customer
Author Roisin Farelly (IRN Publishing) and Eurofound
Measure added 26 April 2020 (updated 07 July 2023)

Background information

Under the Government’s National Digital Strategy, the expanded Trading Online Voucher Scheme helps small businesses with up to 10 employees to trade more online, boost sales and reach new markets. There is up to €2,500 available through the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) with co-funding of 10% from the business. This is one of a series of measures to assist small businesses to deal with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Content of measure

The Local Enterprise Office is the First Stop Shop for anyone seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Ireland.

This funding measure assists micro-enterprises to trade more online, boost sales and reach new markets. There is up to €2,500 available through the Local Enterprise Offices with co-funding of 10% from the business.

Funding can be used towards adding payment facilities or booking systems to the funding recipient's website or developing new apps for customers. The voucher can also be used towards subscriptions to low cost online retail platform solutions, to help companies quickly establish a retailing presence online.

The scheme runs until 30 September 2020.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

23 June 2023

There is no closing date for applications to this scheme at present.

30 October 2020

The scheme was extended throughout the pandemic.

The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment (DETE) stated that completed applications received before 5pm on the 31st December 2020 will be evaluated under the 90% funding rate and 50% if received after 5pm on the 31st December 2020 to a maximum voucher rate of €2,500.

Use of measure

According to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, up to 30 December 2020, 12,570 applications were approved with a total value of €29.75 million.

According to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, between 1 January 2021 and 3 March 2021, a further 2,379 applications were approved with a total value of €5.51 million.

According to the COVID-19 and Brexit Business Supports Tracker 2021, 3,826 grants were approved to a value of €8.35 million, as of 22 September 2021.

According to the COVID-19 and Brexit Business Supports Tracker 2022, 4,442 grants were approved to a value of €9.62 million, as of 7 January 2022.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers SMEs
One person or microenterprises
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Local / regional government
Public support service providers
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement No involvement
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • No involvement
  • Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

N.A

Views and reactions

No involvement.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2020), Trading online voucher scheme, measure IE-2020-15/795 (measures in Ireland), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/IE-2020-15_795.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.