Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2025
52. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment the number of businesses that have been supported through energy efficiency grants in each county over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50435/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, I believe it is essential that all businesses are supported and encouraged to become more energy efficient. By doing so businesses will not only become more sustainable, they will also reduce their energy costs and become more competitive. The agencies under my Department’s aegis: Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices and IDA Ireland, have provided 1,738 energy efficiency grants to businesses over the past five years.
IDA
IDA Ireland does not offer a specific support focusing solely on energy efficiency, however the agency does offer its client companies green capital grants under the Environmental Aid Scheme. These supports enable clients to invest in initiatives outlined in their Climate Action Plan at scale, over multiple years.
Supports are designed to deliver measurable positive environmental impact, to strengthen site competitiveness and to future proof the business. IDA supports projects that address greenhouse gas reduction, circular economy and waste, efficient use of water, biodiversity, pollution control, climate adaptation and energy efficiency.
Table 1 below provides information on the number of businesses that they have supported with environmental grants over the past five years. To maintain client confidentiality, IDA Ireland does not share the regional breakdown of grants and supports provided to clients.
Table 1. Number of businesses supported with environmental grants.
|
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Total |
1 |
2 |
11 |
9 |
18 |
Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Offices
Between them, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), offer a number of energy related grants. The LEOs’ Energy Efficiency Grant offers 75% of project costs up to a maximum amount of €10,000 and is open to all small businesses with up to 50 employees.
The Climate Planning Fund for Business and the Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund meanwhile are available through Enterprise Ireland are part of the Green Transition Fund. The Fund contains a range of supports for businesses to make the green transition including: vouchers to help companies prepare a plan for the low-carbon and resource efficient economy of the future; capital support for companies to invest in improved energy efficiency and decarbonising their manufacturing processes; and grants to explore the development of new or improved products, services or processes in the areas of sustainability and decarbonisation.
I announced last year that €300m would be available to Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to support client companies to reduce their industrial emissions between now and 2030 through the Environmental Aid scheme. The scheme supports projects that aim to deliver significant scope 1 emissions reduction, improved energy efficiency, low carbon production methods and resource efficiency.
Table 2 sets out the county-by-county breakdown of the schemes offered through Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, over the past five years.
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
Further energy efficiency supports to business are available through The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which is an agency under the remit of my colleague, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien T.D., and they will respond directly to you in due course.
Table 2 – Enterprise Ireland/Local Enterprise Office Energy Efficiency Supports 2020 – 2025
|
County |
Energy Efficiency Grant (LEOs) |
Climate Planning Fund for Business (Enterprise Ireland) |
Enterprise Emissions Reduction Investment Fund ((Enterprise Ireland) |
Environmental Aid (Enterprise Ireland) |
Number of businesses that have been supported through energy efficiency grants in the past 5 years: |
|
Carlow |
40 |
19 |
1 |
0 |
60 |
|
Cavan |
32 |
25 |
5 |
2 |
64 |
|
Clare |
30 |
11 |
2 |
0 |
43 |
|
Cork |
107 |
93 |
20 |
3 |
266 |
|
Donegal |
36 |
13 |
5 |
0 |
53 |
|
Dublin |
49 |
190 |
10 |
3 |
252 |
|
Galway |
43 |
42 |
5 |
0 |
90 |
|
Kerry |
36 |
22 |
5 |
1 |
64 |
|
Kildare |
42 |
34 |
2 |
1 |
79 |
|
Kilkenny |
29 |
12 |
2 |
0 |
43 |
|
Laois |
25 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
36 |
|
Leitrim |
17 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
22 |
|
Limerick |
19 |
37 |
3 |
0 |
59 |
|
Longford |
32 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
38 |
|
Louth |
11 |
20 |
6 |
0 |
31 |
|
Mayo |
44 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
62 |
|
Meath |
31 |
28 |
2 |
0 |
61 |
|
Monaghan |
36 |
30 |
3 |
0 |
69 |
|
Offaly |
36 |
9 |
4 |
0 |
49 |
|
Roscommon |
24 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
29 |
|
Sligo |
21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
|
Tipperary |
28 |
21 |
4 |
0 |
53 |
|
Waterford |
19 |
9 |
3 |
0 |
31 |
|
Westmeath |
35 |
14 |
1 |
0 |
50 |
|
Wexford |
20 |
14 |
3 |
0 |
37 |
|
Wicklow |
9 |
16 |
5 |
0 |
30 |
|
Total |
851 |
703 |
92 |
51 |
1,697
|
