Online Trading Scheme

Grant Rate and Amount

Under the Trading Online Scheme a maximum grant of up to €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure, excluding VAT, whichever is lesser, is available to eligible businesses to develop and strengthen their ability to trade ‘online’.*

Eligibility Criteria

The scheme is targeted at businesses with the following profile:

• Microenterprises (with up to ten employees) located in the Gaeltacht;
• which are trading for at least 6 months prior to date of application;
• With an annual turnover of less than €2m a year, and
• who wish to develop or to upgrade an e-commerce site (rather than a brochure  website).

What can the grant be used for?

• IT consultation;
• Development or upgrade of an e-commerce website;
• Implementing Online payments or booking systems;
• Purchase of Internet related software;
• Purchase of online advertising (this purchase cannot make up more than 30% of approved Scheme costs and can only be drawn down in one payment phase);
• Developing an app (or multiplatform webpages);
• Development of a digital marketing strategy;
• Implementing a digital marketing strategy;
• Training/skills development specifically to establish and manage an on-line trading activity.

Evaluation

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Value-added potential
• Export potential
• Job creation potential
• Financial Sustainability

What projects / sectors are eligible under this scheme?

Most business sectors are eligible under the scheme – there are, however, a limited number of ineligible projects / sectors which include:

• Air Travel
• Electrical product manufacturing
• Information Technology and Publishing
• Finance and Insurance
• Education
• Arts*
• Businesses with charitable status*

*Application will be accepted, on an exceptional basis in the 2023 scheme, from Gaeltacht firms in the education, community education, language education and arts firms as they are central to Údarás na Gaeltachta’s development programme.

Applications will be accepted, on an exceptional basis in the 2023 scheme, from Gaeltacht social enterprises and from firms from the Gaeltacht community development sector (including those with a charitable status) as long as the application has a commercial basis.

Please contact the local Údarás na Gaeltacht office to confirm eligibility in advance of making an application.

Expenditure ineligible under the scheme?

• Development of brochure websites (i.e. website which do not sell products or services online or which do not have an interactive booking function)
• Purchase of non-internet related software;
• Anything other than online trading related activity.

Information regarding Scheme administration

• Scheme approval must be gained prior to incurring any expense. It is in writing that Údarás na Gaeltachta confirms scheme approval for the applicant in question. Applicants must return signed letter of offer.
• Own labour is not an eligible expense.
• Only third party supplier costs which have been chosen and stated on the application will be included.
• All third party/supplier invoices must contain proper business details (e.g. Tax and Business Registration details to prove supplier is registered as a business in the place that they are located).
• Each relevant supporting document should accompany the application form:
  • Copy of estimates from suppliers together with details of the work that is to be carried out and the costs associated with it;
  • Evidence of duration of trading if the business is not registered or if applicant is a sole trader;
  • Application can be declined on failure to provide supporting documents;
• Applicants must submit one grant claim only at the end of the project.
• Applicants should retain all relevant paperwork during the project to assist them in processing their own claim at the end of the project, including: applicant Tax Clearance Certificate, the original invoice from the supplier, evidence that the supplier has been paid and Declaration of project completion by supplier.

 

Online Trading Scheme Application Form

Send your completed application form to tradala@udaras.ie