Dáil Question on the Getting Business Online scheme

7th May 2013 - Alan Farrell TD

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of businesses that have available of and are now online due to the Getting Businesses Online initiative, supported in part by the City and County Enterprise Boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Mr Bruton):
The County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) have been to the forefront in delivering training programmes to small businesses in all sectors on topics related to the internet covering email to online engagement with customers and much more. CEBs run locally-arranged training on topics such as: ‘ICT Essentials for SMEs’, ‘Social Media for Your Business’, ‘Blogging Effectively for Your Business’, ‘E-Marketing’, ‘Digital Marketing Strategy and Website Analytics’,

In addition in 2011 the CEBs, in partnership with Google, delivered a Programme called ‘Getting Irish Business Online’ whereby entrepreneurs were able to avail of a free easy to update website. As part of this initiative, the CEBs have been involved with approx 2,400 websites which have been set up since summer 2011 using the Getting Business Online website template tool.

The CEBs will continue to prioritise online business trade (not simply have a website presence but to have an online trading presence) and going forward the new LEOs will have a strong role in the development of web-enabled services with a focus on increasing the number of small businesses trading online.

In addition, the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs includes a commitment to increase the number of businesses trading on line through a new Business On-Line voucher scheme. This initiative is being led by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. It will support one or more pilot projects in 2013 with the intention of informing a scaling-up of the initiative in 2014. The detailed operational arrangements for the pilot(s) will be agreed in the third Quarter of this year.

Alan Farrell TD

Dublin Fingal

Alan Farrell is the Chairperson of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. He is also the Fine Gael Dáil spokesperson on…

Dáil Question on the Getting Business Online scheme

Alan Farrell TD

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