Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

61. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that he is proposing to support SMEs struggling to meet rising energy bills. [45127/22]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

73. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on concerns raised by a local business (details supplied) in respect of the worsening energy crisis that is debilitating businesses across the country; his plans to support businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44870/22]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

74. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on concerns raised by a local business (details supplied) in respect of the worsening energy crisis that is debilitating businesses across the country; his plans to support businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44875/22]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

75. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on concerns raised by a local business (details supplied) in respect of the worsening energy crisis that is debilitating businesses across the country; his plans to support businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44878/22]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

83. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that he is proposing to support SMEs struggling to meet rising operational costs. [45128/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 73, 74, 75 and 83 together.

The Government is acutely aware of the difficulties businesses have faced over the past number of years with the necessary COVID-19 restrictions and now with the increased cost of living and in particular energy costs.

The Government is fully committed to helping business particularly over coming months but also into next year as energy prices escalate and the cost of living increases. This will be central to our budget discussions and any new measures to assist businesses will be announced on Budget Day.

Officials in my Department are working with officials in the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform, Finance and Environment, Climate and Communications and other relevant Departments to develop proposals to assist all business. A priority is to deliver that assistance as effectively and efficiently as possible.

The Government has already implemented measures to help ease the impact on enterprises of rising energy costs, including a temporary reduction in the excise duties charged, by 20 cent per litre of petrol, 15 cent per litre of diesel, and 2 cent in the excise duty charged on marked gas oil.

There are over 20 other government grants, vouchers and training available to help enterprises reduce their energy bills by reducing their use and becoming more energy efficient. Details of these are available on gov.ie. But we need to do more. We need a mix of broad based measures that will help all business and we also need targeted interventions for those most impacted.

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and his Department are involved in the EU negotiations on energy and we are expecting to see a full set of measures to support enterprise. My Department is also working with the European Commission to allow us to grant state aid to certain businesses to help them with additional costs (both liquidity and energy costs) due to the Russian war on Ukraine.