Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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234. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update in tabular form on a county basis the number of businesses in each county that have successfully applied for inclusion under the temporary business energy support scheme as of 16 May 2023; the estimated value or worth of the support in each county to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24411/23]

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 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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 31 May 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.

Section 7 of Finance Act 2023 extends the scheme to 31 May 2023 (with an option to further extend to not later than 31 July 2023 by Ministerial Order), expands eligibility and increases the level of payment to qualifying businesses. The Act reduces the energy cost threshold for businesses from a 50% increase to a 30% increase in energy costs, effective from 1 September 2022. It also increases the amount of temporary business energy payment from 40% of eligible costs to 50% of eligible costs for claim periods from 1 March 2023, subject to monthly limits.

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 as of 18 May 2023:

I am advised by Revenue that as of 18 May, 28,858 businesses have registered for the scheme. 24,259 of these have commenced the claim process. 18,349 businesses have fully completed the claims process and 5,910 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’.

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.