Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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251. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of applications made to the temporary business energy support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3240/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was introduced to support qualifying businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas (energy) costs over the winter months. A business can make a claim under the scheme if it is tax compliant, carries on a Case I trade or Case II profession, and has experienced a significant increase of 50 percent or more in its electricity and/or natural gas average unit price. The scheme runs from 1 September 2022 to 28 February 2023. Claims may be made in respect of each calendar month within this time frame.

The scheme, which is being administered by Revenue, provides for a cash payment to qualifying businesses. Revenue’s online system for registration for the scheme opened on 26 November 2022 and claims can be submitted under the scheme since 5 December 2022. Finance Act 2022 was signed into law on 15 December 2022; payments to qualifying claimants commenced after this date.

Revenue publishes statistics weekly regarding the numbers registering for and claiming under the scheme.

As of 18 January 12,357, businesses had registered for the scheme, of which 6,727 have commenced the claims process and 4,861 have submitted completed claims - some for more than one month or claim period. 5,793 claims have been approved with a value of €12.38m of which €10.99m has been paid out.