Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would not say we are ahead on the solar PV panels scheme. Seeing as Mr. Hughes brought it up, the scheme was introduced last week by the Ministers, Deputies Coveney and Eamon Ryan. It was welcome. They spoke about it at a committee meeting a few months ago. The funding for it is through the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS. Mr. Hughes will be aware that many businesses installed solar panels in the past year because of the rising cost of energy. The Government and Mr. Hughes's Department recognised that businesses needed support last September by putting in the TBESS. The Department of Finance set it up. There is frustration in some businesses that installed solar panels in the past year that the scheme was not in place, because it had not been prepared on time. The Government set the date of September 2022 when we recognised that businesses were under huge pressure. Businesses have put in solar panels at a huge cost to their businesses and only received €2,400, whereas the new scheme offers up to €160,000, depending on the kilowattage the system produces.

I understand the Department has been allocated approximately €15 million for it by the Department of Finance. There is a good argument for it to be backdated to September 2022 and that funding from the Department should be made available to support the businesses that invested in the past 12 months.