James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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69. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of County Kildare businesses that have applied for assistance under the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number that have been successful; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for businesses in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11368/23]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of businesses in County Westmeath that have applied for assistance under the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number that have been successful; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for businesses in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11154/23]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 80 together.

The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was introduced to support qualifying businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas costs over the winter months.

Details of the scheme are set out in Finance Act 2022. The scheme provides support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 30 April 2023. However, subject to State aid approval, this period is to be extended to cover energy costs up to 31 May 2023. It is 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.

The TBESS operates by reference to bills for the metered supply of natural gas and electricity. It is available to eligible businesses whose average unit price of electricity or gas for the relevant billing period has increased by a certain percentage as compared with the average unit gas or electricity price in the corresponding reference period in the previous year. Currently the relevant percentage is 50% however, as recently announced, and subject to State aid approval, this percentage is to be reduced to 30% on a retrospective basis, which will allow more businesses to qualify. Amounts payable under the TBESS are calculated based on a percentage of the increase in an electricity or natural gas bill as compared to a bill amount in a corresponding reference period in the previous year. Currently, the payment is based on 40% of the increase however, subject to State aid approval, this is to be raised to 50% for claim periods from 1 March 2023.

Revenue publishes detailed statistical reports in relation to the TBESS which are updated on a weekly basis. These reports are available on Revenue’s website. The registrations and claims for County Kildare and County Westmeath as of 1 March 2023 are as follows.