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then and the Easter period with representative groups, including a lengthy meeting with the Minister for agriculture and I had with both the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, and Farm Contractors Ireland, and the significant engagement the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney … addition to the tax measures being discussed, the Government has also announced a comprehensive €100 million fuel subsidy support scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs. Farmers and agricultural contractors will benefit from a support rate equivalent to approximately 20 cent

services, at a cost of €40 million per month for three months; — a comprehensive €100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers will be put in place; — this package of supports is in addition to the measures announced in March, which included … million over a three-month period. There is another €100 million in a fuel subsidy support scheme to assist the very farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers Deputy Cairns spoke about. That has also been announced and will be deployed to give real cash payments to assist productive sectors

well known. There are reductions in the excise duty on petrol, diesel and green diesel. There is a package for farmers, farm contractors, agricultural contractors, hauliers, bus contractors, fishers and many important supply sectors of the Irish economy. The Deputy is also right that there is a real

will engage and ask Ministers to engage with the relevant groups there because we want the packages either for transport or for the agricultural contractor area to be inclusive. We do not want people excluded. The proposals have been worked up in the Department of Transport and they … possible so that people can benefit from the rebate, which will be quite significant going back to March for the agricultural areas and for contractors more generally. I will take on board what the Deputy has said, particularly about any gaps for any particular group that might

fuel subsidy support scheme, FSSS, that is being implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers in managing the increased cost of marked gas oil. As a rural TD, I know how higher prices have impacted on these sectors … people to maintain their essential work across the country. Further information on the eligibility criteria will be made available by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and it is expected that applications for support will be possible in mid-May, with payments to follow thereafter. Although

about the Department of agriculture's capacity to deliver timely payments under the Government's €100 million fuel subsidy support scheme for farmers, agricultural contractors and fishermen and fisherwomen. The reason there is scepticism is that there were significant delays in payments under the agri-climate rural environment … only for there to then be delays and chaos. Will the Taoiseach confirm that additional staff will be allocated to the Department of agriculture to ensure that these payments will be made in a timely manner

With the rising cost of diesel, people I know did not know what their future was. A lot of these people, including fellow agricultural contractors, have a lifelong agreement, if you like - or a custom, whichever you like to say - with all of their clients, where they usually … service they give to people. For maybe two or three generations, they have been going in to do work on the same agricultural land for families. They found themselves in a very perilous situation. They did not know what the price of diesel was going

expect that their elected representatives will balance international commitments with the immediate needs of its own citizens. I know from speaking to many agricultural contractors that they still need continued support. They are constantly contributing to our economy and as taxpayers, they should get fair play as should … While the One Europe, One Market agenda is presented as a pathway to prosperity, it must be judged by its effects on Irish agriculture, the families bearing the cost of the energy transition and the allocation of taxpayers' public resources. Ireland's national interests require that we defend

Hauliers, farmers and agricultural contractors are among those who only a few years ago would have been called essential workers. Coach operators, too, are essential for day-to-day life, especially in rural Ireland where public transportation options are sorely lacking. They pick up some of the slack

important that non-agricultural contractors are recognised

they will receive direct fuel-linked supports because fuel makes up a huge proportion of their costs and they have felt disproportionate increases. Agricultural contractors are also receiving monthly targeted payments because they are exposed during seasonal periods. That is very important. Many businesses in retail and hospitality

services, at a cost of €40 million per month for three months; — a comprehensive €100 million Fuel Subsidy Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers will be put in place; — this package of supports is in addition to the measures announced in March, which included

very well, we brought in a specific scheme - a fuel subsidy support scheme - under the Minister for agriculture's remit to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel payments. The payments will cover the months of March up until the end of July, which

month to actually remove carbon tax from green diesel, the cost of which has gone through the roof for farmers. Talk to agricultural contractors and talk to ordinary farmers. Talk to the farmers who are telling me that this scheme, which we have not seen as the applications

transport sector, to cover unsustainable increases in fuel costs, and introduce a rebate scheme for green diesel that can be availed of by agricultural contractors and others who use that fuel. There is something in the air at present. You can feel it. It feels heavier

households across this State that use kerosene, yet there is nothing in the package for them. We all know the issues for agricultural contractors, farmers and hauliers. They would say that they have had issues for years, and this was the straw that broke the camel’s back

reduction of 2.4 cent in marked gas oil, green diesel. A comprehensive new €100 million fuel subsidy scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers across unprecedented increases in fuel has also been confirmed. The transport support scheme we have put in place amounts to €120 million

Fine Gael and the Independents are not on their side. Now people are demanding real measures. Yes, it has been the farmers, the agricultural contractors, the hauliers, the bus companies and others who have led the charge

Governments, and this Government, listen, be kind and be understanding. There are farmers who are really suffering so much at present. There are agricultural contractors who are really suffering. There are people who cried at the protests. These were workers. These were respectable people. They are the people

from the sector. I have those black hands all my life with grease and oil. I know what it is to be an agricultural contractor and the Government, its civil servants and the people in here turned around and thought they knew more. People are paying

Government is really showing support. It wants to work with our hauliers, our farmers, our agricultural contractors and our bus operators. It is important that people have certainty, particularly those involved in businesses and who are the hardest hit. I know that some are struggling. We all know

introduction of specific financial supports for key sectors of the economy, such as haulage, distribution, logistics, school transport, bus operators, farmers and agricultural contractors. In particular, I am happy that sole traders in these sectors can access the support funds. Our Independents, together with Fianna Fáil and Fine

been seen on a protest before and who did not want to be anywhere next or near a protest. We are talking about agricultural contractors, farmers and those involved in the bus and coach industry. As Joanna Byrne has said, some of them are here today. There

blitz for Carlow-Kilkenny and an expansion of Local Link, demand-responsive transport in rural areas with little or no bus service. Farmers, agricultural contractors and hauliers are paying higher diesel costs now so we need to ensure that the fuel subsidy support scheme that has been introduced

Government is squandering money. It needs to stop. The Government needs to stand up for the hardworking Irish people, the farmers, hauliers, agricultural contractors and small businesses. They should not have to come kicking and screaming for money. The Government needs to listen to them

Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the grant supports in place for farmers or agricultural contractors who want to purchase zero-emission farm vehicles; if there are supports available under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme; and if he will make a statement

businesses that deliver their own products and do not qualify for existing fuel-related supports as they are neither licenced hauliers nor agricultural contractors; if he will consider introducing measures to assist such businesses with rising fuel costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter

asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if consideration has been given to expanding the existing farm diesel carbon tax relief to include agricultural contractors, and to simplify the scheme to improve uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27534/26

Marine whether the Government intends to introduce a national temporary farm fuels support scheme to provide monthly payments to farmers and agricultural contractors in respect of increased fuel costs compared to 2025 levels, and if such a scheme will be backdated to 1 March

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to expanding the existing farm diesel carbon tax relief to include agricultural contractors and to simplify the scheme to improve uptake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27538/26

Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps are being taken to guarantee adequate fuel availability for essential sectors, including agriculture; to confirm that agricultural contractors will have sufficient access to fuel during critical periods such as crop sowing and silage operations; and if he will make a statement

will acknowledge that such measures have resulted in only a marginal reduction of approximately 3% in fuel costs for farmers and agricultural contractors, which is insufficient in the context of recent price increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26957/26

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the measures his Department intends to take to mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs on farmers' incomes, agricultural contractors, and the wider agri-food supply chain, particularly in circumstances where farm margins cannot absorb additional costs; and if he will make

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if measures will be introduced without delay to reduce the costs of green diesel for farmers and agricultural contractors in view of the serious increase in such costs and the resultant financial pressures on the farming community; and if he will make

Marine if he has assessed the risk to national fodder and food production arising from the escalating diesel costs faced by agricultural contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25822/26

large-scale business and co-ops (details supplied) will be included in the excise duty relief that supports licensed hauliers, freight operators, agricultural and fishing contractors or bus companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31641/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will formally recognise agricultural and forestry contractors as essential service providers within the national food production system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25821/26

Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce targeted financial supports for agricultural and forestry contractors who are facing vast fuel cost increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25823/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will simplify access for farmers and contractors who need to draw down funding from the €100 million fuel subsidy support scheme that was recently announced to help address rising fuel costs

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being considered to address the indirect impact of rising fuel and fertiliser costs on farm operations, including contractor services and transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27539/26

Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to urgently consider including a large-scale business and co-ops (details supplied), in the reliefs that support licensed agricultural/fishing contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32417/26

Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that the cost of agri-diesel has increased by approximately 50% in recent weeks, representing the most significant percentage increase across fuel categories; the extent to which the Government has assessed … impact of these increases on farm viability and contractor operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26958/26