Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is fair to say that the Government has not been found wanting when it has come to helping businesses get through difficult periods and saving the jobs of people who work in those businesses. We demonstrated this throughout the pandemic, particularly with the employment wage subsidy scheme, EWSS.

I am very conscious of how worried SME owners and managers are as we go into the winter. Putin's invasion of Ukraine has had massive consequences for the whole of Europe, not just in Ireland. Indeed, we are now facing a global inflation crisis exacerbated by the war.

While I have not been able to locate the Wise Business survey cited by the Deputy, I understand from media reports that it finds a large proportion of businesses fear they might have to close in 2023. On a more positive note, it finds that nearly two thirds of respondents are investing in or expanding their online presence, while more than half are planning to expand their business abroad.

My message to SMEs, professionals and farmers, is that help is now available. The temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS, will provide qualifying businesses with relief on 40% of the increase in their electricity or gas bills, up to a maximum of €10,000 per month and €30,000 in some cases. It is important that businesses get their paperwork and bills in order, register and make a claim on revenue.ie. That is now open.

As we said on budget day, the TBESS needed to be designed and receive state aid approval from the European Union, which it now has. Now that we have all the steps in place, we will shortly be able to issue payments and hope to do so before Christmas. These will be backdated to September.

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