Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

There is a wide range of grants, vouchers and training available to help SMEs to reduce their energy costs. Improving energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption helps to reduce emissions and ultimately improves competitiveness and saves on energy costs.

Supported by my Department and administered by the SEAI, current supports to SMEs include the excellence in energy efficiency design scheme. It is for all businesses, including SMEs, and helps in the planning of any major investment in energy efficiency. There is grant support of up to €1 million per project available. There is the support scheme for renewable heat. It supports the adoption of renewable heat by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and public sector organisations. There is the support scheme for energy audits which offers €2,000 towards the cost of a professional, high-quality energy audit. Last of all, the SEAI's energy academy is an online resource that provides business with free access to high-quality energy training.

As part of the targeted milestones under the climate action plan and expedited as part of the national energy security framework, comprehensive reviews of all energy efficiency schemes have been carried out. Work between my Department and the SEAI continues with enhanced measures in streamlining processes and improved customer engagement already in place. The support scheme for energy audits, for example, has seen a significant increase in demand in recent months with €1 million in direct supports being provided to 500 SMEs. Furthermore, as part of the targeted measures in the decarbonisation of commercial building stock, a new, non-domestic solar photovoltaic support programme will be launched by the SEAI this month to add to the current ongoing development of a commercial retrofit support programme due to come on stream in 2023. The nationwide Reduce Your Use public information also gives practical advice on how people and businesses can save money by promoting and encouraging energy efficiency. It will focus on how we can reduce heating and electricity use in homes, workplaces and public sector buildings.

The Government is currently considering what additional supports could be made available to SMEs and other businesses in recognition of the significant increase in their energy costs this year. Decisions on this will be taken as part of budget 2023.

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