Business Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2023

Tuesday, 24 January 2023

Ceisteanna (69, 83, 88, 89)

James Lawless

Ceist:

69. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Finance the number of Kildare businesses that have applied for assistance under the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number of Meath businesses that have applied; the number of Kildare applications that have been successful; the number of Meath applications that have been successful; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2985/23]

John McGuinness

Ceist:

83. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Finance the number of Kilkenny businesses that have applied for assistance under the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number of Wexford businesses that have applied; the number of Kilkenny applications that have been successful; the number of Wexford applications that have been successful; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3067/23]

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

88. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Finance the number of Offaly businesses that have applied for assistance under the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number of Laois businesses that have applied; the number of Offaly applications that have been successful; the number of Laois applications that have been successful; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3069/23]

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

89. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Finance the number of Clare businesses that have applied for assistance under the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number of Galway businesses that have applied; the number of Clare applications that have been successful; the number of Galway applications that have been successful; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2990/23]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 83, 88 and 89 together.

The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was introduced to support qualifying businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas costs over the winter months.

Sections 100 to 102 of the Finance Act 2022 make provision for the TBESS. The scheme provides support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 28 February 2023. The TBESS is available to eligible 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.

Qualifying businesses can claim for 40% of the increases in their energy bills between the ‘claim period’, September 2022 to February 2023 and the ‘reference period’, the corresponding calendar month in the previous year. Payments are generally subject to a monthly cap of €10,000 per trade or profession. Businesses which are eligible for TBESS can register for the scheme via Revenue’s online service and comprehensive guidelines on the operation of the scheme are available on the Revenue website.

I am advised by Revenue of the following registrations and claims for the following counties.

County	All Applications	Approved Registrations	Value of Approved Claims
Clare	338	329	€445,847
Galway	804	784	€800,288
Kildare	476	466	€503,351
Kilkenny	306	294	€257,051
Laois	176	173	€193,600
Meath	503	497	€653,171
Offaly	221	216	€199,788
Wexford	483	471	€600,293

I am advised by Revenue that applications received from businesses are reviewed to determine eligibility and this accounts for the variance in the figures for ‘all applications’ and ‘approved registrations’. In addition, Revenue is publishing detailed statistical reports in relation to the TBESS which are updated on a weekly basis. These reports are available on Revenue’s website.

Questions Nos. 70 to 72, inclusive, answered orally.