Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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127. To ask the Minister for Finance the measures under consideration to alleviate the huge increases in the cost of energy to small and medium businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54997/22]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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158. To ask the Minister for Finance if his Department is considering options to amend the temporary business energy support scheme to provide additional support for smaller firms with limited resources, revenue and reserves to meet rising energy costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55912/22]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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203. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the need for further flexibility with respect to the TBESS to support the viability of businesses struggling with their energy costs in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53862/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 158 and 203 together.

Details of the new Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) are set out in Finance Bill 2022. The scheme will provide support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 28 February 2023. The TBESS will be available to tax compliant businesses carrying on a trade or profession the profits of which are chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D where they meet the eligibility criteria. It will also be available to certain charities and approved bodies who, but for specific exemptions, would be chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D. The scheme will be operated on a self-assessment basis.

Payments will be made on the basis of 40% of the amount of the increase in eligible electricity or natural gas costs between the bill amount which is the subject of the claim and the bill amount in the corresponding reference period in the previous year. Payments are generally subject to a monthly cap of €10,000 per trade, increasing to a maximum of €30,000 in certain circumstances.

In line with the EU Temporary Crisis Framework, there is also an overall cap on the amount that an undertaking can claim.

Claims must be made through the Revenue Online Service (ROS). Subject to receiving State aid approval it is expected that the TBESS system will go live by end-November, enabling businesses to register for and claim under the scheme.

Revenue have published comprehensive guidelines on their website on the operation of the scheme.

The Government and I recognise that we cannot fully mitigate the increase in energy prices incurred by businesses and the percentage payment and monthly caps reflect this. The caps have been put in place in order to target the support at SMEs which are the backbone of the Irish economy. However we also recognise that the energy price market is fluctuating. Accordingly, I have put forward an amendment, which will be discussed at Committee stage, that would allow the Minister for Finance, to increase or decrease the monthly caps by Ministerial order where it is considered necessary to ensure that the scheme is meeting its objectives.