The Scheme, which is administered by the Local Enterprise Offices on behalf of the Government, provides grant assistance of up €2,500 to small businesses to trade online and boost sales. 

Over 600 successful applications to the Scheme from Galway were allocated funding of €1.52 million while over 400 successful applications from Mayo were allocated €932,669 in funding last year. 

The support the Trading Online Voucher Scheme provides is important in ordinary times but even more so during the Covid-19 Pandemic on account of the public health restrictions on the physical opening of businesses. 

The €1.52 million to Galway businesses and over €930,000 to Mayo businesses has helped local enterprises to develop an online presence and continue to trade. 

Changes to the Scheme last year mean businesses can now apply for a second voucher to upgrade their website and online sales area to keep pace with the latest technological developments in online retailing. 

In recent weeks, responsibility for the Scheme has transferred from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communication to the Department for Enterprise, Trade and Employment which is a better fit for the Scheme and opens up the possibility of enhancing the Scheme further.