Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to support SMEs to make the shift to renewable energy and upskill in green tech; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50843/25]

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Sustainability is good for business and I am committed to boosting the competitiveness of SMEs by helping them to reduce the costs of doing business and become more sustainable. Towards this goal my Department is encouraging all businesses to avail of the wide range of supports, in particular the supports for assessing energy use, undertaking an energy audit and investment in decarbonising technologies, which are all detailed on the National Enterprise Hub.

One such support is the which is a free online resource for SMEs to estimate and understand their carbon footprint across their operations. Businesses get a tailored climate action plan specific to their business, with recommendations on the most impactful steps that they can take to reduce their environmental impacts, and directions to the Government supports to help them including investment in renewable and green technologies. Jointly developed by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, in collaboration with the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment, the Toolkit has delivered approximately 17,500 tailored climate action plans to help businesses on their zero-carbon journey.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Support Scheme for Energy Audits pays for a high-quality energy audit for SMEs that spend more than €10,000 annually on energy. There is also a range of energy efficiency modules on offer through the SEAI Energy Academy – a free, online e-learning platform designed and curated by Ireland's leading energy experts. This year, 1593 vouchers have been issued in relation to the energy audit with a value of €3.19 million.

SEAI’s Business Energy Upgrade Scheme offers up to €120,000 for a range of building upgrade measures including pumps, solar thermal, automatic controls, heat pumps, ventilation and wall insulation. and fabric. heat pumps, ventilation and wall insulation. Up to Q2 2025 120 grants had been approved to a value of €2.1 million.

Solar thermal grants are available to all businesses up to €15,000 and the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant provides financial assistance to help businesses and other sectors to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site. Grant funding is available for systems up to a maximum 1000kWp.

Other supports available to business to support them on their sustainability journey include:

The Green for Business Scheme, which is provided through the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), aims to help small businesses in lowering their carbon footprint, reducing their costs, and improving their environmental profile. The scheme is open to small businesses with up to 50 employees. So far this year 516 SMEs have been approved for the scheme, with an estimated value of €1.1 million.

The Energy Efficiency Grant (EEG), which is also available through the LEOs, supports companies to reduce their overall energy costs and carbon emissions by accelerating the adoption of low carbon technologies or processes identified through a Green for Business, Green Start or SEAI Energy Audit. Any business with up to 50 employees, who has completed one of the named prerequisite consultancy or audit programmes is eligible for the Energy Efficiency Grant. The grant offers 75% of project costs, up to a maximum of €10,000. So far this year 513 small businesses have been approved for the Energy Efficiency Grant, with an estimated value of €4.29 million.

Lastly, Skillnet Ireland, funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in partnership with industry, offers a range upskilling programmes and business supports to companies of all sizes. Green economy supports are available in the areas of renewable energies, particularly wind energy, energy efficiency, environmental, water and wastewater management, consultancy services and technologies. The Skillnet Ireland Climate Ready Academy offers leadership and skills support for enterprises that want to develop.