Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2022
3. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will expand the eligibility for the new €55 million Green Transition Fund to smaller businesses that are not supported through Enterprise Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32900/22]
View answerMy department is actively pursuing opportunities for decarbonisation across our entire enterprise base and we always aim to foster strong, resilient businesses, that are successful and sustainable, while meeting the enterprise sector’s climate objectives.
The Green Transition fund I launched last week has two elements, the "Climate Planning Fund for Business" and the "Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund".
The Climate Planning Fund for Business is targeted at companies of different sizes and at all stages of their zero carbon journey, and is open to all client and potential client companies of the enterprise development agencies. The Climate Planning Fund for Business is therefore available to all Enterprise Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta clients and potential clients, with certain programmes such as the GreenStart also available through the Local Enterprise Offices, which support all businesses with less than 10 employees.
The Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund provides grant aid to reduce the payback period on carbon reducing technologies in manufacturing processes, and is designed very specifically to achieve a core measure in the enterprise chapter of the Climate Action Plan 2021 to “accelerate the uptake of carbon-neutral heating in industry”. It is therefore targeted only at manufacturing businesses, the vast majority of which are, or are eligible to be, clients of Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland or Údarás na Gaeltachta. The Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund will provide manufacturing businesses the foundations they require to begin their transition to low carbon production processes and assist them to invest in carbon abating capital equipment and technologies.
To help all businesses get started on the transition to a low carbon economy, my Department, with Minister Ryan's Department, launched the Climate Toolkit 4 Business last year, which can assist all SMEs and microenterprises. The Toolkit provides an estimate of the carbon footprint of the business based on some simple information input and generates a tailored action plan and highlights relevant state programmes and funding that can assist in implementing the recommended actions. These actions will be in the areas of energy use, water use, materials use and transport. By implementing them, businesses will be well on their way to a greener future. I would encourage all enterprises that do not qualify for the Green Transition Fund to engage with the Climate Toolkit for Business as it will help them get started on their low carbon journey.
Our Local Enterprise Offices recently re-launched the “Green4Micro” programme. This programme offers green transition advice and technical support to micro-enterprises. The Green for Micro programme is open to all micro-enterprises, and not just agency clients, with up to ten employees. This programme is particularly suited to businesses in construction and the built environment, retail, manufacturing, textiles and fashion, food, electronics, plastics, and packaging. Qualifying SMEs receive two days of intensive mentoring, including a sustainability audit, and design an action plan to reduce their carbon footprint. With climate change, changing regulations, rising resource costs and changing customer expectations adopting an eco-friendlier approach is the best way forward for business.
