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With the trend ever increasing towards online spending it is estimated that only 23% of small Irish businesses are engaged in any meaningful way in eCommerce sales. For businesses employing less than ten people this percentage could be even lower. It is now believed that of online purchases made in Ireland that 70% of these are done in overseas markets.

There is now an urgency to ensure that businesses recognise that this is happening and that they are encouraged and supported to correctly respond to this digital reality. 

In order to support this goal, the National Digital Strategy, developed and funded by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources aims to get a further 2,000 businesses trading online by the end of 2015.

Eligibility Criteria

• Vouchers will be available to a maximum value of €2,500 or 50% eligible expenditure (inclusive of VAT), whichever is the lesser;
• Voucher approval must be gained prior to incurring any expense;
• Own labour is not an eligible expense;
• Third party costs only will be considered;
• All third party/supplier invoices must contain proper business details (e.g. Tax and Business Registration details).

The vouchers are targeted at businesses with the following profile;

• Limited online trading presence;
• Less than 10 employees;
• Applicants must be registered and trading for minimum of 12 months;
• Turnover less than €2 million.

Ineligible projects include:

• Charitable status;
• Commercial semi-state companies;
• ”Not for profit” organisations;
• Trade associations;
• Company representation bodies such as Chambers of Commerce.

What can The Online Trading Vouchers be used for;

• The development or upgrade of an e-commerce website such as implementing online payments or booking systems;
• Purchase of Internet related software;
• Online advertising;
• Development of an app;
• Implementation of a digital marketing strategy;
• Consultation with ICT experts for early stage adopters of online strategy;
• Training/skills development specifically to establish and manage an online trading activity.

Vouchers cannot be used for:

• Development of brochure websites;
• Purchase of non-internet related software;
• Anything other than online trading related activity.

Voucher Application:

• Read the terms and conditions
• Complete and sign application form to Local Enterprise Office South Cork
• Enclose copies of three quotations in respect of each proposed element of work.

Local Enterprise Office South Cork

Phone: 021-4975281
Email: southcork@leo.corkcoco.ie
Fax: 021-4975287

The table below shows the membership of the new Local Community Development Committee for South Cork.

The Local Government Reform Act 2014 (the same legislation that abolished Town Councils) provided for the establishment of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each local authority area.  The stated purpose of LCDCs is to enhance strategic planning for the local authority area and to co-ordinate local and community development activity.  LCDCs will also be administering the very valuable European LEADER funding.

Because County Cork is so large, Cork County Council has been permitted to set up 3 LCDCs.  That which is relevant to us in Carrigaline-Ballincollig is the South Cork LCDC.  During this 5-year term, this LCDC will:

• prepare the community elements of a 6-year Local Economic and Community Plan (the Plan);
• coordinate, manage and oversee the implementation of local and community development programmes as part of implementing the Plan, and
• coordinate local and community development activity generally within the operational area of the LCDC.

Membership of South Cork LCDC:

The County Council Chief Executive’s assessment of the Port of Cork’s planning application was circulated to all Members on Wednesday of last week.  It was disappointingly but unsurprisingly in full support of the planning application.

I was particularly disappointed that the CE’s report did not, in my opinion, reflect any concern for the effect the proposed development at the port in Ringaskiddy might have on the other multi-faceted benefits that Cork Harbour offers.  It is acclaimed as one of the potential tourism jewels in the county, marine-based recreation continues to grow ever more in popularity, it is surrounded by designated scenic routes, it has a highly sensitive landscape of designated national importance and this area of the Lower Harbour is home to some 30,000 people.  The report spoke of the economic benefits of the Port’s move as presented in the planning application, but it did not mention the socio-economic benefits of all the other uses which the Harbour offers and is developing.

I prepared an assessment for the Members to highlight what I perceived to be important topics for consideration that remained unaddressed by the CE’s report.  I did not suggest that the Port should not move to the Lower Harbour, but merely that we, as Members, had a duty to alert An Bord Pleanala to the fact that we believed the report to be incomplete in the context of assessment of the impacts of the proposed development.  The debate in the  Chamber was recorded as part of the Strategic Infrastructure Process for the benefit of An Bord Pleanala.

I was very grateful and relieved when the Members agreed to append my report to that of the CE for sending to An Bord Pleanala as a reflection of the Members concerns for full and just impact assessment.

Copy of my email sent to all independents prior to the AGM of Cork County Council.

Dear all,

I am very conscious that we all voluntarily came together as a group of Independents last Saturday with an agreed spokesperson and that whilst much water has gone under the bridge since Tuesday, I have spoken to just some and not all of you on my position.

I do not wish to be part of the “agreement” proposed on Tuesday prior to our induction meeting in the Chamber. My reasons are myriad, but the primary and over-riding one is that I cannot and will not give up even the perception of the independence which was so important to those who voted for me. I have no desire to wear a chain nor to hold the position of a chair. Therefore I do not consider that a 5-year alignment with any political grouping in return for these positions is adequate reward for the loss of the absolute independence I guaranteed to those who placed their trust in me. Whilst I appreciate that we will have months to work on the budget prior to its being brought before full Council, I cannot commit to supporting a budget about which I may have reservations for any of those five years. The aims to be worked towards in the run-up to the budget do not come close to meeting the priorities I outlined to those who voted for me. The additional committee positions being offered as part of the proposed agreement do not offer me any opportunity to influence policy in areas where I have expertise.

It was clear from our meeting on Saturday that we had formed a defined group to increase our chances of getting the positions on committees that we particularly wanted. It was also clear that our forming a group would allow us the opportunity to appoint a group chair to an SPC and consequently get to take a seat at CPG meetings. The benefits of this approach are self-evident.

But what was equally clear at Saturday’s meeting was that our formation of a group had no relation to any pact or agreement with any other party. Indeed, this position was voiced and confirmed prior to our going our separate ways. Our individual positions as independent members of the Chamber was also clarified.

I have to be truthful and say that, at a personal level, I was blown away at the leap our voluntary grouping had taken between Saturday lunchtime and Tuesday morning. At our Tuesday meeting, it became clear that negotiations with regard to an agreement with political parties had been undertaken on our group’s behalf. As a member of that group, I certainly had not been informed of even an intention to undertake such negotiations.

As confirmed at our Saturday meeting, each member of our group is independent. Should any one of you wish to be part of the 5-year agreement with Fianna Fail and Labour, that is of course your prerogative. I choose not to be part of it for the aforementioned reasons. I have made it clear to John Paul that as agreed on Saturday, I will support him to take the chair of the SPC of his choice and, indeed, should he wish to propose himself for the position of Mayor tomorrow, I will also support him in that.

As it was clear that the formation of our independent group was not aligned with any agreement or pact of any kind, I hope I am correct in assuming that our independent group will continue to work together towards the aims for which it was established. Should I not be correct in that assumption, I should be grateful if you would let me know.

I look forward to working with all of you.

All the best,
Marcia.