Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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260. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cumulative value of the supports his Department has provided for business to tackle increased energy costs since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36957/24]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department developed the Ukraine Enterprise Crisis Scheme (UECS) which provided funding to assist viable but vulnerable companies of all sizes in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sectors impacted by energy price rises and other direct consequences of the war in Ukraine. Since 2022 the Department has made payments of €9,473,881 to 40 businesses.

The Energy Efficient Grant (EEG) offered by the Local Enterprise Offices supports capital investment by businesses to reduce carbon emissions based on energy efficiency projects. In 2023, 35 EEG grants were approved to a value of €137,423 and 544 Green for Business consultancies were approved, valued at €1.14m. So far this year 83 EEG grants applications have been received to the end of August this year, with 62 approved to a value of € 338,599. The LEOs have also received 571 Green for Business applications, with 556 having been approved, valued at €1.185m.

As part of the recent SME Package, the maximum amount available under the Energy Efficiency Grant Scheme has been increased. Any business with up to 50 employees, who has completed one of the named prerequisite consultancy or audit programmes is eligible for the EEG. The grant now offers 75% of project costs, up to a maximum of €10,000. Applications are open since 12th July.

On foot of consultations with industry representative bodies and other stakeholders my Department developed the Business Users Support Scheme for Kerosene (BUSSK) in 2023. 464 businesses were successful with their application and €611,725.19 was paid out to businesses.

This year my Department development the Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) Scheme which opened for registrations on 14th March this year. To date over 81,000 businesses have benefited from the scheme with a total to date of €231 million paid to businesses.

The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) operated from December 2022 to December 2023. This was a scheme developed by the Department of Finance and administered by the Revenue Commissioners to assist businesses with increasing energy costs. This Department funded the scheme. 25,132 businesses received a TBESS payment to the total value of €155 million.

Enterprise Ireland also provides a range of supports to assist companies to implement sustainable business practices, improve efficiency and reduce energy costs. These include schemes such as:

- Green Start, which is targeted at businesses seeking to introduce environmental best practice systems to achieve cost and resource reductions;

- Green Plus, designed to support larger scale sustainability projects within companies;

- Energy and Environmental Aid funding that is made available to businesses that are seeking to accelerate the adoption of low carbon, efficient and sustainable production practices;

The National Enterprise Hub online portal, which I launched on 10th July, provides all business owners with a centralised signposting service of over 180 Government supports. The Hub has a team of expertly trained advisors who can help to diagnose the needs of a business and direct you to the appropriate available supports or indeed put you in direct contact with the relevant agency.