Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2023
82. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance his views on the number of temporary business energy support scheme applications to date; the work being done to improve the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9261/23]
View answer84. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance his plans to improve the level of uptake of TBESS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11347/23]
View answer87. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance his assessment of the operation of the temporary business energy support scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11379/23]
View answerRegarding temporary business energy support scheme applications to date, I ask the Minister to outline the number submitted; the work being done to improve the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 84 and 87 together.
The TBESS was introduced to support qualifying businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas costs over the winter months. TBESS is provided for in sections 100 to 102, inclusive, of the Finance Act 2022. The scheme is administered by the Revenue and initially provided support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 28 February 2023. The scheme operates by reference to bills for the metered supply of electricity and natural gas through electricity accounts or gas connections identified by a business’s own meter point reference number, MPRN, or gas point reference number, GPRN. It provides for a cash payment to qualifying businesses impacted by the unprecedented increase in energy costs resulting from the military aggression by Russia in Ukraine. The scheme is subject to state aid approval under the European Commission’s temporary crisis framework for state aid measures to support the economy following the aggression against Ukraine by Russia.
I have announced several significant enhancements to the scheme so that additional businesses can benefit from this vital support. The scheme was originally due to expire on 28 February 2023. While the Government confirmed its decision to extend the scheme to 31 May 2023, pending the introduction of necessary legislation to make this change, and to facilitate the continuation of the scheme in the meantime, I have exercised the power contained in section 100 of the Finance Act 2022 to extend the scheme to 30 April 2023. I will allow time for the Deputy to put any specific question, if he wishes to.
I ask Deputy Burke to take only ten to 15 seconds.
Has there been a percentage increase in the number of applications received?
We are seeing increases in the number of registrations and claims. The Revenue publishes statistical reports concerning TBESS weekly. These reports are available on the website. As of 1 March 2023, some 25,423 businesses had registered for the scheme and 23,833 claims had been approved, to the value of €51.65 million. Of course, the changes we announced two weeks ago will, I am certain, result in a significant increase in the number of businesses that will be eligible and in the amounts that can be successfully claimed under the scheme. I look forward to these changes coming into effect in the weeks ahead.
