Energy

Businesses get less than €4m from €200m support scheme

Applications from manufacturers were held up by delay in Department of Public Expenditure approval which was finally agreed last week

Michael Fitzmaurice, the independent Galway-Roscommon TD: the government’s support scheme for manufacturing businesses has had a slow rollout

Manufacturing businesses hit by high energy costs after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have received less than €4 million from a €200 million government support scheme.

The emergency scheme was launched last October to give companies funding of up to €2 million, with half of the amount to be covered by the state.

The scheme was revised again last December to make it more attractive, with the maximum funding raised to €4 million.

But new applicants ...