Nearly 200 Laois businesses seek energy support

Businesses in Laois have received over €190,000 in energy supports since September. 

A total of 173 Laois businesses qualified for the scheme and between them received €193,600 towards their energy bills. Three applicants in Laois failed to secure assistance under the scheme. 

The figures were released by Minister for Finance Michael McGrath in response to a Parliamentary Question from Laois Offaly TD Barry Cowen. 

Minister McGrath provided a breakdown of scheme in a number of counties, including of Offaly, where 216 of the 221 applications were approved and  €199,788 in support was issued. 

Minister McGrath explained that the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was introduced to support qualifying businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas costs over the winter months.

The scheme provides support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from September 1, 2022 to February 28, 2023. The TBESS is available to eligible tax compliant businesses carrying on a trade or profession, the profits of which are chargeable to tax.

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Qualifying businesses can claim for 40% of the increases in their energy bills between the ‘claim period’, September 2022 to February 2023 and the ‘reference period’, the corresponding calendar month in the previous year. 

Payments are generally subject to a monthly cap of €10,000 per trade or profession. 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.