Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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111. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the temporary business energy support scheme, as many small businesses in County Donegal and across the country are still facing extreme difficulty with the inflation crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43743/23]

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 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finance Act 2022 (as amended) made provision for the TBESS.

The scheme provided support to qualifying businesses in respect of increases in their electricity or natural gas costs. The TBESS was 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.

The relevant claim periods for TBESS were the calendar months from 1 September 2022 to 31 July 2023 after which time the scheme ended. The final deadline for eligible businesses to submit claims for relief for each of those claim periods was Saturday, 30 September 2023. The scheme is now closed.

Over €145.3 million has been approved for payment to 31,309 businesses across the country, which includes €4.76 million approved for payment to 1,338 businesses in Donegal.

The TBESS was designed as a temporary measure and I do not have plans at this time to re-open the scheme or to introduce a similar scheme.