Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 October 2023
129. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total moneys issued under the temporary business energy support scheme; what has become of the underspend from this scheme; and if all moneys allocated for business under the scheme will be used to support business or if that money has gone back to the Exchequer. [45597/23]
View answerAs you are aware, the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was a government grant designed to help businesses with increasing energy costs. The Scheme was designed by the Department of Finance and was administered by the Revenue Commissioners. However, funding for the Scheme was allocated to the Vote of my Department.
As of 5th October (the latest stats available from the Revenue Commissioners), 31,309 businesses had registered for the scheme, with a total of €136.43 million paid out.
The Business Users Support Scheme for Kerosene was launched on the 6th September and will remain open for applications until the 31st October. The scheme provides a once off grant to reimburse businesses that use kerosene for heating purposes for half of the increased costs that they experienced during the period from 1st March to 31st December 2022, when prices increased significantly. The cost of the scheme will be dependent on the level of demand from businesses. Funding for the scheme is being provided from unspent TBESS funds.
Also on 4th July 2023, Government approved amendments to the existing Non-Domestic Microgeneration Scheme, operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), to extend supports to a wider range of businesses and non-domestic applicants. The Government decision amended the Scheme on a pilot basis up until the end of 2023. Government further agreed that the pilot amendments to the Scheme be funded by way of a transfer of c. €15m of Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme monies from the DETE Vote in 2023 to the DECC Vote. The new range of installation sizes will cover a significant variety of businesses, from small local shops up to large manufacturing facilities. It will also be available for public buildings, sports clubs and community organisations.
In accordance with Public Financial Procedures all public monies unspent are returned to the exchequer at the end of the year. It is not possible to say at this time how much money will be unspent and returned to the exchequer at the end of this year.
It is also worth noting that, the Government, announced in last week’s budget the Increased Cost of Business Scheme (ICOB) which will benefit up to 130,000 Small and Medium sized enterprise in 2024.
The aim of the Scheme is to provide financial support to those firms which have been most impacted by additional business costs, by providing a tiered grant equivalent to up to half business rates for this year. €250 million is being allocated to businesses under this Scheme.
