Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 November 2022
148. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding business energy supports; the number of businesses applying; if it is sufficient; the updated costings from the scheme based on uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55829/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra150. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Finance if a full list of all companies applying for and receiving the temporary business energy support scheme will be published; when such information will be available; if the amounts claimed for each company will also be publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55864/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra163. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Finance the progress to date in introducing a temporary business energy support scheme; the projected number of businesses to avail of this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55878/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 150 and 163 together.
Details of the new Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) are set out in Finance Bill 2022 which will be discussed at Committee Stage later today. The scheme will provide support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 28 February 2023. The TBESS will be available to tax compliant businesses carrying on a trade or profession the profits of which are chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D where they meet the eligibility criteria. It will also be available to certain charities and approved bodies who, but for specific exemptions, would be chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D. The scheme will be operated on a self-assessment basis.
Payments will be made on the basis of 40% of the amount of the increase in eligible electricity or natural gas costs between the bill amount which is the subject of the claim and the bill amount in the corresponding reference period in the previous year. Payments are generally subject to a monthly cap of €10,000 per trade, increasing to a maximum of €30,000 in certain circumstances.
The TBESS is subject to State aid approval. Provided such approval is received in the coming weeks, it is expected that the scheme, which will be administered by the Revenue Commissioners, will be open for applications on 26 November, with the first payments being made during the week commencing 28 November.
The Revenue Commissioners will be publishing the details of qualifying businesses who have claimed a temporary business energy payment one month after the day on which the specified period ends, They will also publish those details five months after the specified period ends. This is to ensure publication in respect of claims made after the end of the specified period but within the four month time-limit.
In addition, the EU Temporary Crisis Framework imposes certain monitoring and reporting requirements on Member States. These include notifying the Commission when aid granted to an undertaking reaches certain publication thresholds, and monitoring aid granted to ensure that it does not exceed the overall ceilings on aid set out in the Framework. In order ensure that these obligations can be met, it is proposed to amend the legislation to allow for additional information to be gathered from those registering to make a claim under the scheme. Gathering the information on registration will help make the process of complying with the State aid obligations more efficient.
