Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will appreciate that, as I am a Deputy for Limerick City, I get a lot of people on to me about business. The schemes being announced are very welcome and will make an enormous difference, but the energy costs of businesses like the retail businesses ringing me, particularly supermarkets, are now going up threefold. Those businesses are very genuine. They are huge employers in the area and they are asking if there will be latitude in the level of support provided. The temporary business energy support scheme provides 40% off their energy costs, but in many cases their energy costs have now trebled. I had one supermarket on to me whose costs have gone from €16,000 per month to €48,000 in the past month alone, and they will go even higher again.

All the schemes are great. I just want to know if there will be latitude in the percentage discount the Government can give under the temporary business energy support scheme. Will the Department have further flexibility in being able to extend the scheme beyond February of next year if the energy crisis continues? Furthermore, is there flexibility under the scheme to allow for charities, which operate very much in supporting sectors?

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