Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Conway-Walsh.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire Staít as an gceist seo a thógáil. An fáth go bhfuilimid á hardú inniu ná gur chas mise le gnólacht i gConamara agus dúirt sé liom go bhfuil sé ag úsáid an gháis peitriliam leachtaithe seo. Mar gheall air sin, níl sé in ann an scéim chun cabhrú i dtéarmaí fuinnimh a úsáid, rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil sé an-deacair dó na doirse a choinneáil ar oscailt, rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil sé an-deacair dó daoine a choinneáil fostaithe. Is féidir linn breathnú air seo agus oibriú lena chéile chun féachaint cén bhealach gur féidir linn cabhrú leis na gnólachtaí seo. Is léir nach an gnólacht seo amháin atá i gceist ach go bhfuil an deacracht seo ag gnólachtaí timpeall na tíre.

I want to raise this issue. I met with a business in Connemara which uses this liquefied petroleum gas, LPG, and as a result it was unable to access the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS. It has been struggling badly over the last number of years between Covid and now the huge rise in energy costs. As a result, the business cannot be kept open all the time. It is a hotel. In a small, rural area that has a serious impact on employment in the village. It is having a big knock-on effect. It is important to raise this issue. We can work on it together to see if there is a way to help these businesses in the west that are impacted to try to keep the doors open.

See this speech in context