Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of businesses in counties Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, respectively, that have applied for assistance under the temporary business energy support scheme to date; the number that have been successful in each county; the estimated value or worth of the support to date for businesses in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21468/23]

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 costs arising from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Sections 100 to 102 of the Finance Act 2022 make provision for the TBESS. The scheme provides support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 30 April 2023. The TBESS is available to eligible 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.

For claim periods falling between September 2022 and February 2023, qualifying businesses can claim for 40% of the increases in their energy bills when compared to their bills for the reference period which is the corresponding calendar month in the previous year. As part of enhancements to the scheme which are provided for in Finance Bill 2023 the level of relief increases from 40% of the uplift in energy cost to 50% from 1 March 2023, subject to the relevant monthly caps contained in the legislation. In addition Finance Bill 2023 reduces the entry threshold for the scheme from a 50% increase in average unit price to a 30% increase. The scheme will also be extended to 31 May 2023.

Businesses which are eligible for TBESS can register for the scheme via Revenue’s online service and comprehensive guidelines on the operation of the scheme are available on the Revenue website.

I am advised by Revenue of the following registrations and claims for the Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, as of 4 May 2023:

I am advised by Revenue that as of 4 May, 28,495 businesses have registered for the scheme in total nationally. 23,852 of these have commenced the claim process. 18,217 businesses have fully completed the claims process and 5,635 have partially completed the claims process. Until the claims process is fully complete, the claim cannot be processed by Revenue, and for approved claims, a payment made. To date, the vast majority of completed claims have been approved by Revenue.

Applications received from businesses are reviewed to determine eligibility and this accounts for the variance in the figures for ‘all applications’ and ‘approved registrations’. In addition, Revenue is publishing detailed statistical reports in relation to the TBESS which are updated on a weekly basis. These reports are available on Revenue’s website.