€600,000 in funding approved to support Gaeltacht companies

Local businesses will benefit from the €14.2 million boost to the Trading Online Voucher Scheme operated by the Local Enterprise Offices and Údarás na Gaeltachta.

In just three months there have been almost 4,000 applications to Local Enterprise Offices, including Galway’s LEO, to access the Trading Online Voucher Scheme.

Under the Scheme, small businesses can secure €5,000 in two grants, worth €2,500 each, to develop or enhance their online business. The Scheme has become essential for many SMEs operating their business in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Scheme provides direct financial support to enable businesses to set up websites, develop e-commerce capability, including booking systems or online payment facilities, develop apps and other mobile-friendly solutions as well as invest in online marketing and advertising. New changes mean 90% of the costs are covered, up from 50%.

I commend Minister Heather Humphrey and Minister Richard Bruton who have worked to secure this extra funding and make the Scheme more flexible and responsive to the needs of our local businesses.

In addition, I’m delighted to have been able to approve funding from the Department of Culture, Heritage and Gaeltacht, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, of €600,000 to Údarás na Gaeltachta to administer the Scheme in our Gaeltacht communities. Údarás has extensive experience of support businesses of all sizes and has, for many years, delivered Local Enterprise Office services to our Gaeltacht regions.

For more information about this Scheme and the other supports available please visit https://www.localenterprise.ie/Discover-Business-Supports/