212. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount allocated to the digital trading voucher scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; the amount expended in each year; and the number of digital vouchers provided under the scheme in each year. [17966/19]

The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is an initiative specifically designed to support small and micro enterprises to trade online. The scheme offers financial assistance of up to €2,500, subject to matching funding, coupled with training, mentoring and networking supports to help small businesses to develop their online trading capability. Small businesses, with 10 or fewer employees and less than €2m in revenue, that have little or no capacity to trade online, are eligible to apply. The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is funded by my Department and is delivered on a nationwide basis by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) network. Businesses must be located within the jurisdiction of the LEO to which they apply. The Trading Online Voucher Scheme is demand-led and, as such, funding is provided to LEOs and is drawn down based on the value of approved ‘vouchers’ and costs incurred in administering the Scheme.