COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 10, 2021

QUESTION NO. 6

QUESTION: Councillor B. Lawlor

To ask the Chief Executive how many applicants were received in 2020 for the Trading on-online Voucher Scheme, and did it increase significantly on applications received in 2019.

REPLY:

The Trading On-line Voucher (TOV) is aimed at established microbusinesses, including sole traders, with little or no trading online capability, operating in sectors where the market has not already compelled them to develop this capability. In response to COVID 19 a special TOV scheme was launched by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and funded by Department of Communications, Climate action and Environment to support businesses impacted with closure.

In all cases for TOV matched funding is required and the normal level of financial support is 50% of eligible expenditure up to a maximum of €2500 (exclusive of VAT). This was increased to 90% support on eligible expenditure up to maximum of €2500  (exclusive of VAT) from April 2020 until the end of 2020.

There was strong publicity and promotion of the scheme and it attracted exceptional interest.

Applications of 1307  were received of which 672 were approved for 2020. The number of TOV applications were 58 in 2019 of which 48 were  approved. This represents an increase of 1249 applications (  2153%)  and Approvals increased by 624 (1300%).

These changes to the terms and conditions of the Trading online Voucher Scheme were adjusted back to standard terms at the end of December i.e. the matched funding support level changed from the 90%/10% back to the normal level of 50%/50%  and the scheme is now funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.