Voucher scheme keeps money in Tipperary economy

The gift voucher card scheme operated by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Tipperary is the way to go, and not just at Christmas, a meeting of Clonmel Borough District has been told.

“It’s just fantastic and it guarantees that money stays in the local economy,” Cllr Siobhán Ambrose stated.

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She made her remarks after Ita Horan, Assistant Head of Enterprise at the Local Enterprise Office, told the meeting that the Tipperary Gift Card initiative was jointly led by County Tipperary Chamber and Tipperary County Council and launched last November.

Early last month this Love Tipperary initiative officially reached the “incredible” milestone of €100,000, Ms Horan stated.
94 businesses registered to accept the card in Clonmel. She said that a total of 94 trading online vouchers were approved, valued at €190,352.

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Cllr Tom Acheson asked if there was ongoing advertising for the gift card initiative. It was a great way to get people to support local businesses and to keep people away from online shopping.

District Mayor Pat English said that the gift cards were a good way to bring people back to the town centre.

Ita Horan agreed that the gift voucher scheme needs to be continually promoted.

She also told the meeting that 149 jobs were created last year by the 262 companies supported by the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) in Tipperary.

Eight businesses based in the Clonmel area received a total of €278,323.

Grants were awarded to 39 Christmas events and markets that were hosted during December in the towns and villages across the county.

The value of the grant scheme was €41,450, with €6,800 granted to the Clonmel district area for four events that were organised.

Ms Horan said that the Student Enterprise Programme was also very successful in 2024, with 25 of 29 secondary schools engaged on the programme across Tipperary.

Cllr Richie Molloy said that the Local Enterprise Office was a great facility for people who wanted to start a new business and needed some direction.