Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move recommendation No. 10:

In page 9, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:

“Report on extension of TBESS eligibility to charitable organisations

8.The Minister shall, within three months of the passing of this Act, lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on options for extending eligibility for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme to charitable or non-profit organisations which do not carry on a trade which is chargeable to tax, including through the use of refundable tax credits or other means.”.

Recommendation No.10 calls for a report on options for extending eligibility for the TBESS to charitable or non-profit organisations which do not carry on a trade which is chargeable to tax, including through the use of refundable tax credits or other means. We are urging the Minister of State to explore options for providing targeted energy supports to non-profit or charitable organisations which incur significant energy costs but do not qualify for support under the scheme. We know, for example, that essential services like local drug and alcohol task forces have never seen their funding restored to pre-austerity levels. Even before the energy crisis, these organisations were calling for urgent support and funding. In 2021, for example, the Tallaght task force called for €1 million in additional funding in order to be able to continue its work. Considering the fact that since then we have seen energy costs potentially double for organisations like this, on top of the funding shortfall that already existed, we urgently need to explore options for targeted energy supports for these organisations.