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move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises that: — households, farmers, agricultural contractors, hauliers, tradespeople and businesses are facing renewed and significant increases in the cost of fuel and energy, adding further pressure to an already severe cost-of-living crisis; — petrol and diesel are essential rather than discretionary expenses … particularly in rural Ireland where access to adequate public transport and viable alternatives to private vehicles remains limited or non-existent; — farmers and agricultural contractors have no practical alternative to diesel for the operation of tractors, harvesters and other essential agricultural machinery, and that rapidly increasing marked

Today, people are being crucified by the cost of fuel. Farmers, agricultural contractors, hauliers, small businesses and ordinary working families are being hammered every time they pull into a filling station or fill the tank with home heating oil. What are they being told? They are being told … front door tomorrow morning and get on a bus that does not exist. A farmer cannot run a tractor on fresh air. An agricultural contractor cannot harvest a field without diesel. A haulier cannot deliver goods around the country without fuel. Have the fishermen of the country been

Government has delivered one of the largest support packages in the EU per capita, totalling over €1.3 billion and targeted at households, farmers, agricultural contractors, hauliers, tradespeople and businesses. Since the beginning of the crisis, this Government has acted to reduce excise duty on diesel, petrol and marked … Deputies will be aware, the Minister for agriculture acted to implement a comprehensive €100 million fuel income support scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs. The scheme provides €20 million per month in supports. Farmers and agricultural contractors benefit from

this Government. These are supports have been designed to share the burden of the conflict in the Middle East with households, farmers, agricultural contractors, hauliers, tradespeople and businesses. The motion also fails to take into account obligations set out in EU legislation in relation to fuel taxation … that, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine implemented a comprehensive €100 million fuel income support scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and the fishing sector facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs, which gave a support rate equivalent to approximately 20 cent per litre of green diesel

comprehensive €100 million fuel income support scheme. The fuel income support scheme has been introduced as a targeted income support to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs. The scheme is available for fuel used over the five-month period from March … July 2026, which coincides with peak fuel usage on farms. Farmers and agricultural contractors availing of the scheme will benefit from a support rate equivalent to approximately 20 cent per litre of green diesel. The funding will be distributed proportionally, reflecting a point that was strongly emphasised

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

This would protect the NBI and ESB networks across the country. I also propose the establishment of contingency contracts with farmers and agricultural contractors that would kick into action following storms and crisis situations. I was shocked to learn in recent weeks that some of the biggest … best agricultural contractors in Mayo were not contacted. These people have some of the biggest and best machinery to deal with trees falling across roads and across power lines in forested areas

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

agricultural production. The Government has committed to and is working on separate lines of support for those in the plant industry. Where agricultural contractors are using green diesel or marked gas oil and it is directly linked to the production of agricultural produce, that is covered under this

gceist le haghaidh na míonna sonracha. I do not accept the Deputy's proposition that the fuel subsidy scheme for farmers and agricultural contractors is inadequate. It is a comprehensive scheme that was worked out in discussions with representative organisations. There has to be some methodology attached … clear methodology designed. The Minister for agriculture has worked with the agricultural organisations and the representative organisations in respect of that and every effort will be made to support farmers and contractors in that regard. The Minister for Transport on the other hand is dealing with the haulage

been paid out already. We are working through the rest of them and there will be an appeals process once that scheme closes. Agricultural contractors were included in the original scheme managed by the Department and the Minister for agriculture. However, the Deputy is correct to say that

Government brought out for the agri sector for the fuel, some of the sectors are saying that unless you are under an agricultural contractor you do not qualify for this scheme. We have an awful lot of plant hire people who do agricultural work but they

conscious of the pressures that farmers are facing when it comes to fuel costs. Therefore, the fuel income support scheme for farmers and agricultural contractors and related horticulture and fisheries schemes are being extended to cover a further five-month period this year, at a cost

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

supports given. Money spent locally in agriculture stays local and benefits the economy in a particular area. This includes farmers, input suppliers, merchants, agricultural contractors and various advisory services. On a national level, we need to ensure that we protect and grow the sector. We need to promote … grow alternative revenue streams. It has proved successful in other areas and it is something we should be looking at here. Turning to agricultural shows, I live in County Offaly. The Tullamore show is the largest one-day event on the island. We will have the National Ploughing

what he has done, like I asked on 24 March and 25 March when the Government did nothing at all for farmers and agricultural contractors, but it had to when it was forced to come out, even though it put the Garda and the Army after people

investment in the viability of family farms and the communities that depend on them. When a farm is viable it supports agricultural contractors, machinery businesses, vets, hauliers, merchants, local shops and services. The money circulates through the rural community and economy and remains within it. When farming

replacing the boiler or putting solar panels on the house. We have seen over €1.3 billion in measures targeted at households, farmers, agricultural contractors, hauliers, and businesses. The Government has delivered one of the largest, if not the largest, support packages in the EU per capita

attend college out of the county, in Waterford or Limerick, for example, you must use a car. Of course, farmers, agricultural contractors, haulage companies, small businesses and the self-employed have no alternative but to use petrol or diesel. The supports that are already in place must

winter. It is the same with green diesel. Some people were not included in the packages given out in May. The agricultural contractors and farmers were given packages at that time to help them to reduce the cost of the green diesel. Many of them could not draw

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

threshold for service providers; whether his Department has assessed the extent to which the threshold acts as a disincentive for small businesses and agricultural contractors seeking to expand their turnover; and whether any review of the threshold is planned. [74250/26

road transporters support scheme (RTSS) will be extended for new applicants, following the recent announcement that the fuel income support scheme for agricultural contractors and farmers will be extended. [69932/26

Minister for Finance the total Exchequer expenditure, by scheme to date in 2026 on fuel-related supports for haulage operators, bus operators, farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers; and the number of beneficiaries under each scheme. [68914/26

Food and the Marine if he will expand the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme (TAMS), or introduce a dedicated grant aid measure, to support agricultural contractors in purchasing precision spot-spraying equipment and technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54574/26

Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average payment made under the fuel income support scheme to farmers, agricultural contractors and commercial fishers; the highest and lowest payments made in each category, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement

Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the diesel rebate scheme operates for agricultural contractors and farmers; the current and projected rebate rates per litre; the basis on which the rebate is calculated, including whether it is linked

Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that payments to farmers and agricultural contractors under the fuel support scheme will be quick and swift and implemented with a minimum of bureaucracy; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the category under which a small scale agricultural contractor who is not VAT registered as his annual turnover does not meet the threshold, and who does not hold a herd number, can qualify for the fuel

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

Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of agricultural and forestry contractors based in County Offaly who applied for support under the 2026 fuel income support scheme; the number approved; the total value of payments approved and paid; and the average

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

Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in view of the recent fuel increases, the supports that will be made available for machinery contractors not engaged in agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45656/26

Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of third party contractors engaged directly by an organisation (details supplied) with funding provided by his Department each year since 2022; the functions provided by each contractor; the contract value of each awarded contract

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