Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the recent announcement by the Departments of the Environment, Climate and Communications and Enterprise, Trade and Employment of extra financial support for businesses to install solar PV panels. It is hugely welcome. The Government has done an awful lot for homeowners in the form of SEAI grants to support them to install solar panels but we probably had not done enough for businesses prior to this announcement. It is significant because, whereas previously businesses could only receive €2,400, they can now get that amount for the first 6 KW and, after that, receive an extra €300 per KW up to 20 KW. After that, they will receive €200 from 21 KW up to 200 KW and support can be provided up to 1,000 KW. Businesses may receive up to €162,000, so it is a significant amount of money for those that are looking to do this.

The scheme is being funded from moneys not spent under the temporary business energy support scheme, TBESS. I request that both Ministers consider backdating this measure to the start of the TBESS. The Government recognised businesses were under huge pressure financially due to the rising cost of energy. It is why we brought in the TBESS in September 2022. Many companies have changed their ways and installed solar panels in the past year to try to reduce their costs, for which they did not receive any grant. It is only from now that people will be able to receive this significant grant. The argument I and the businesses are making is that businesses that made these changes in the past year were correct to do so, if we take the long view and given the financial advantage, but they have missed out on a grant. This scheme should be available to them and should be backdated to when the TBESS commenced because that is the date the Government recognised that businesses were under huge financial strain due to the rising cost of energy. Numerous businesses in Tipperary, from supermarkets to shopping centres, spent an awful lot of money, ranging from €50,000 to €70,000, and only received €2,400. By contrast, businesses that apply now will be able to get a huge amount of money. I ask that this be reviewed.