Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Finance Bill, which provides for some of the changes to the TBESS, passed in the Seanad this evening so will be signed into law shortly. As the Deputies will know, the reduction in the energy cost threshold for entry to the scheme from 50% to 30% will be backdated to September 2022. Therefore, businesses that did not qualify all along because they did not meet that 50% test, if they meet the new 30% test, will receive the payment and it will be backdated to last autumn. The increase in the payment of the eligible cost is going from 40% to 50%. That can be done only prospectively, that is, going forward, from 1 March until the end of the scheme, and that is subject to the relevant monthly limits. As the Deputies will know, we also increased the monthly limits.

As regards the LPG and the kerosene issue, my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Coveney, is working on that. It has taken longer than we would like, certainly, but he gave the commitment to bring forward a scheme, and work on that in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is ongoing.

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