Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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155. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will review the effectiveness of the Local Enterprise Office system in making businesses aware of Government grants and schemes available to them, as only 30,000 businesses took up the TBESS scheme over the winter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20947/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) is a scheme under Revenue which was introduced to support businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas (energy) costs.

The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), located within each of the 31 Local Authorities, act as a ‘First Stop Shop’ providing advice and guidance, financial assistance, and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business. The LEOs also act as a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports available to the SME sector and can, under agreed protocols, provide information and referrals to other relevant bodies e.g., Revenue, Micro Finance Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, LEADER, and Enterprise Ireland. As part of their mandate the LEOs actively promoted the TBESS through various communication channels including their newsletters, social media and in person to client companies.

Furthermore, the Supportingsmes.gov.ie website is an online Government information portal where SMEs can find information and assistance on a range of tailored supports for enterprise of all sizes in Ireland. Supports include access to finance, management development, mentoring supports, business development programmes, market supports and trade promotion. The portal allows enterprise and entrepreneurs to identify the Government supports that they can avail of including Climate and Energy schemes such as TBESS.

The TBESS has been advertised extensively through radio and print media over the last few months and this campaign is ongoing. In addition, our colleagues in Revenue held a live, interactive webinar on 14 December 2022 which provided a comprehensive and easy to understand explanation of the scheme and a demonstration of how to register and claim on ROS. A recording of this webinar is available for viewing on the Revenue website.

In addition, when the scheme went live in November, Revenue wrote to over 50 trade bodies and representative associations summarising the main elements of the TBESS and asking them to promote it among their members through their Newsletters, Website banners, bulk emails or any other means at their disposal to get the message out to businesses in their sector across the country. The bodies who received this communication included IBEC, ISME, SFA, RGDATA, SIMI, IFA, ICMSA, IMO, Vintners Association and Federation, Restaurants Association of Ireland and Chambers Ireland. The TBESS was extensively promoted by the Irish Taxation Institute and Chartered Accountants Ireland among their members so that those tax practitioners could assist their clients in registering for the scheme.

In addition, Department of Finance and Revenue officials have attended several Enterprise Forum meetings advising stakeholders of the TBESS and clarifying any queries about the scheme. A number of enhancements have been made to the TBESS including extending the scheme until 31st May 2023 and the extension of the time limit of all claims to 31st July 2023.

I can assure the deputy that every effort is made by my Department and Revenue, to promote the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he would consider simplifying the process for businesses to be able to access the information regarding the Government schemes available to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20950/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Located within each of the 31 Local Authorities, the LEOs are a ‘First Stop Shop’ providing advice and guidance, financial assistance, and other supports to those wishing to start or grow their own business. The LEOs act as a ‘signposting’ service for all government supports available to the SME sector and, under agreed protocols, provide information and referrals to other relevant bodies e.g., Revenue, Micro Finance Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, LEADER, and Enterprise Ireland.

Furthermore, the Supportingsmes.gov.ie website is an online Government information portal where SMEs can find information and assistance on a range of tailored supports for enterprise of all sizes in Ireland. Supports include access to finance, management development, mentoring supports, business development programmes, market supports and trade promotion. The portal allows enterprise and entrepreneurs to identify the Government supports that they can avail of.

By completing a questionnaire, small business owners can discover which of the numerous business supports available from over 30 different Government Departments and Agencies they are eligible for and can find the contact details of their nearest LEO or other agencies where they can further discuss supports for their business.

The portal has recently been redesigned to make it more user friendly and informative with additional information added such as how to engage in Public Procurement opportunities. This redesign was a priority of the SME and Entrepreneurship Taskforce and was completed in December 2022.

The LEOs, in delivering on their mission to promote entrepreneurship, foster business start-ups and develop existing micro and small businesses to drive job creation, currently provide comprehensive information on supports available to entrepreneurs and business owners, through their 31 offices and their websites.

I am satisfied that the combination of the Supportingsmes.gov.ie website and the signposting services available through the LEOs, provide enterprises and entrepreneurs with a comprehensive overview of the suite of supports available including those from bodies other than my Department.