Firms ignore Government energy relief, say Revenue

e energy subsidy scheme for businesses, initiated by the Government in Budget 2023, is not make any meaningful impact on company nances six months after its introduction.

Businesses have received just €61.3m in payments from the Temporary Business Energy Subsidy Scheme (TBESS), despite the programme being allocated €1.3bn last September, according to the latest gures from Revenue.

Most of that money has sat unused as rms were uneasy with the tight qualifying criteria for the scheme and a lengthy application process, leaving many to struggle alone against high energy prices.

e Government agreed to extend the deadline, loosen the eligibility rules and increase the available payments in the Spring Finance Bill, but the belated revisions to the scheme are now stuck awaiting EU state aid approval in Brussels. It was the second set of changes to the scheme after professionals such as doctors, dentists and solicitors were left out of the version announced in the Budget.

A Department of Finance spokesperson said that approval should be con rmed "very soon” but in the meantime the scheme is languishing while huge energy bills are falling due for companies.

As of March 30, a total of 27,147 businesses have registered for the scheme and 22,455 of them have begun the claim process. Only 17,481 businesses

Arena are inviting applicants from start-up companies that are under ve years old and from established companies that are focused on innovation. New for 2023 is the chance for previous participants to apply for a space in the new ‘AgTech Hub’ within the Arena which will give companies the opportunity to return to the Innovation e best start-up winner at the Arena will receive €10,000 and will be presented with the prize at a formal awards ceremony during the National Ploughing Championships.

Arena to showcase their progress and growth since rst exhibiting.

Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting companies and entrepreneurs where innovation is at the core of their business o ering. e Innovation Arena at the National Ploughing Championships is a key platform for promoting Irish agri-technology, showcasing capabilities to both a captive domestic and international audience over a busy three days."

IAnna May McHugh, National Ploughing Association

Managing Director said: “ e Innovation Arena is a not-tobe-missed opportunity for anyone who has a good business idea, product or service to showcase at Europe’s largest outdoor event."

* See https://www.eventsforce.net/enterpriseireland/3271/home have fully completed the claims process, while another 4,974 have partially completed the claims process, according to Revenue.

Revenue has said it will reassess submissions made while the enhanced measures are waiting to be enacted. O cials will then reassess all submissions based on the new criteria once EU approval has been granted, after which rms will get bigger payouts backdated to September.

Under the revised scheme, businesses can claim if their energy costs went up by 30%, rather than the 50% required in the original version of the scheme.

Bríd He ernan, tax and policy lead with Chartered Accountants Ireland, who lobbied enterprise minister Simon Coveney to overhaul the scheme, said "a strong communication and education campaign to businesses will likely be needed to remind businesses of the expanded scheme and encourage them to apply where they have not done so already".

She added that the increase in the monthly cap on payments from €10,000 to €15,000 was not subject to EU permission and had been in force since March 1.

Small Firms Association director David Broderick welcomed the recent changes to the scheme, which had led to an increase in payouts in March, but he indicated eligible businesses were still not signing up for the subsidies in large enough numbers.

€3.4m. fund to boost retail store online presence

Retailers in Kilkenny are encouraged to avail of a share of a €3.4m. fund to boost their online presence.

Enterprises across Ireland that have a minimum of 10 employees can apply for a 50% ‘matching grant’ up to a maximum of €25,000.

Applicants must have a physi- cal store as well as an online presence to qualify.

Minister Neale Richmond said all applications would be judged fairly and objectively; “Every application will be adjudicated on by the Department but there’s absolutely a scope for every retail business to do more online."

New car registrations for the month of March were up 37% (17,676) when compared to March 2022 (12,907). Registrations year to date are up 16.5% (58,116) on the same period last year (49,905), according to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

Light Commercial vehicles (LCV) are up 71.4% (3,453) compared to March last year (2,015) and year to date are up 24% (11,587). HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) registrations are also showing an increase of 26.4% (273) in comparison to March 2022 (216). Year to date HGV's are up 42.6% (964).

Imported Used Cars seen a 23.9% (4,699) increase in March 2023, when com- pared to March 2022 (3,793). Year to date imports are up 7% (12,474) on 2022 (11,639).

For the month of March

3,421 new electric vehicles were registered compared to 1,924 in March 2022. So far this year 9,303 new electric cars have been registered in comparison to 6,235 +49% on the same period 2022.

Electric Vehicle and Plug-in Hybrids and Hybrids continue to increase their market share, with a combined market share now of 24%. Petrol continues to remain dominant (32.6%), with Diesel accounting for 22.8%, Hybrid 20.6%, Electric 16% and Plug-in Electric Hybrid 8%.

Obituary: Ned Sweeney, proud Kilkenny man in Dublin. Ned was the rst race director of the Dublin City Marathon and a brother of Jim and Mary and predeceased brothers Pat (ex RTE News) and Joe.

Following school in Kilkenny CBS, he began work in Munster Simms and continued in Dublin with Irish Shell. He lived in Dublin's Killester for many years which was especially handy for hurling matches in Parnell Park and Croke Park.

Ned is survived by his wife Ann (nee Donovan) of St Teresa’s Terrace and three sons and seven grandchildren.

He will be remembered at a month’ mind mass in St Fiacre’s Church, Loughboy (10.30am) on Sunday April 23'