SIGNIFICANT supports of over half a million euro have been approved by Údarás na Gaeltachta in recent weeks for Gaeltacht businesses to support them during the COVID-19 crisis.
Supports totalling €532,500 have been approved for 213 Gaeltacht businesses in recent weeks since the Online Trading Scheme and the COVID-19 Business Continuity Voucher schemes were announced.
There was a considerable demand for both schemes from Gaeltacht SMEs to assist them in boosting their online trading capabilities and in developing business development strategies for the future.
Some Gaeltacht businesses are experiencing significant pressures due to the COVID-19 crisis with job losses and uncertainty regarding what lies ahead. Údarás na Gaeltachta are in direct contact with our client companies to assist them and their staff during this time.
Working hand in hand with Government Departments, Agencies and Other State Colleagues as part of a cohesive and integrated state response to COVID-19
Údarás na Gaeltachta is committed to ensuring that our clients and subsidiaries are prepared and informed regarding the most up-to-date advice and supports available.
The Online Trading Scheme and the Business Continuity Voucher ensured that businesses had the opportunity to assess the difficulties posed by the crisis and to make some progress in dealing with them.
In the Donegal Gaeltacht area:
* €187,500 was approved for 75 businesses,
* 38 applications were approved for the Online Trading Scheme,
* 37 Business Continuity Vouchers were approved,
* The majority of applications approved were for businesses in the Services, Food & Drink, Tourism and Manufacturing sectors.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in association with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Údarás na Gaeltachta recently announced a fund of €600,000 to allow for the implementation of the Online Trading Scheme to continue in the Gaeltacht.
This is significant investment in Gaeltacht companies and the uncertain times of recent months has shown the important of online trading capabilities for any company.
Gaeltacht companies are now seizing the opportunity to take their businesses online or to enhance their current online trading offering and in evidence of the restrictions that social distancing will have on some businesses there will be substantial opportunities available for companies online in the future.
