Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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72. To ask the Minister for Finance if any consideration has been given to allowing new businesses to access the temporary business energy support scheme given that they would be unable to show the 12-month energy price difference under the current criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56846/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that new businesses will be eligible for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme. It is accepted that, in some cases, a business may not have an electricity bill or gas bill for the reference period because the energy account or gas connection either did not exist at the time, or was not held by the business during the particular reference period. This may happen where a business is newly established, has acquired a new electricity account/ MPRN or gas connection/ GPRN, or has moved premises.

A deemed monthly reference unit price is to be made available by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (based on data provided by suppliers and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities) where a business does not have an electricity or gas bill for the reference period. This deemed reference unit price should be used as part of the calculations to determine eligibility for the scheme.