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thank Deputy Burke very much for raising what is no doubt a key point. From early 2021, the Central Statistics Office, CSO, agricultural price indices, which measure the level of input costs and output prices paid and received by farmers, saw significant growth and volatility relative to previous … farm families and businesses. In addition, I introduced the fuel income support scheme as a targeted income support to assist farmers and agricultural and forestry contractors facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs. I also put separate targeted schemes in place to support the fishery sector, which the Minister

have ensured that we have seen reductions immediately at the pumps. We also have targeted schemes for transport operators, for agriculture, fisheries and contractors and SMEs dotted across our rural communities and across the country who need targeted supports at the most critical time of the season when

would always like more in a budget and so on. The Deputy mentioned contractors. I am the first Minister for agriculture to design a scheme that contractors can apply for. Some 3,000 contractors availed of the fuel income support in the first half of this year

raised this issue of the impact of the war and increased fuel prices on farmers and agri-contractors more generally. I welcome the people of Fermoy, who are right in agricultural country as well. The need for a detailed package to be announced quickly … accepted. My understanding is that within the next week or so a package will be outlined by the Department of agriculture in respect of farming and contractors. Then we may have to look at the construction sector. Some will be covered by the haulier and transport provisions

reach out on day one or day two to those sensible people who were making that case. As we discuss haulage, agriculture and supports for farmers, contractors, the construction sector and others, we cannot ignore the fact that home heating oil is at a level that is hard

NORA levy, there is no reason we cannot do the same for the home heating sector and the agricultural and building sectors. I spoke to a groundworks contractor in Dublin this morning who is working at houses. Every month, it is costing them €240,000 more … stir it. I have looked for the full breakdown of the carbon tax receipts. It needs to be put on the record. Yes, agriculture gets some of this money. Those who talk about environmental schemes say that the money is going to AEOS and REPS, but the fact

Transport Infrastructure Ireland to confirm winter planning arrangements for all the road networks. Agreements between local authorities and local contractors are now formalised in terms of forestry and agriculture, so they could be stood up quickly for road clearing. The normal routine stuff - sandbags, salt road treatments

sides of the House, including the Government, to support it and give people a break. The Minister for agriculture introduced a fuel support scheme for farmers, fishers and farm contractors with a budget of €100 million. He promised the budget would go to fuel support for farmers, farm … contractors and fishers. In a reply to a recent parliamentary question, the Minister told me that more than €60 million allocated to that fuel support scheme had not been spent. This money should not be redirected to other areas. It should be allocated to, and spent on, fuel

been done for hauliers and the excise duty reduction, but what has Government done for agriculture? Does it not realise food is produced with tractors right around this country? For the agri-contractor sector and for farmers, what farmers have to pay is an absolute insult. Does … measly 5 cent is going to be taken off between tomorrow and today. It is absolutely disgusting to see the way the agriculture sector has been treated. Then we hear rural TDs talking about how the Government could not do anything about carbon tax. How is it that

giving €16 per fill. For diesel, we are giving €19.20 per fill and for contractors who use marked gas oil, MGO, together with the intervention negotiated with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Deputy Martin Heydon, we are bringing forward €55 for every

insult to a critical cornerstone of our economy. Many members of the agriculture sector were on their knees long before this fuel crisis. Will the Minister of State please reassure farmers, contractors, the haulage sector and the fishing industry that this package will be continually reviewed in light

past 15 months. As a sector, we in agriculture face plenty of challenges. It is my job to fight for and defend agriculture in the best interests of our farmers, fishers and agrifood sector and because of its importance to our overall economy, and in particular our rural … Cabinet and with the support of my colleagues across government. This Government recognises the vital role our farmers, fishers, foresters and farm contractors play across Ireland. The vulnerability of our farmers and fishers to a massive energy shock has greatly concerned us all. However, with Government support

network; work with Coillte and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to identify segments of the network that are at the highest future risk; replenishing emergency stock, spare parts and materials; increasing staffing levels and available contractor resources; and establishing formal mutual aid arrangements for extreme

will ask the various Ministers covering agriculture and transport to have a look at this. Again, we have made progress on a number of fronts. We have to await the detailed development of the schemes in terms of contractors and farmers. The transport scheme is nearing completion

Irish agriculture has gone through a very difficult year with rising input costs and severe weather impacting the sector. The Minister has an opportunity to provide assistance for farmers at this difficult time. The reopening of the fuel support scheme is some assistance in the short term … failed to provide any fuel support for farmers or contractors in budget 2027. It is only until the end of this year. Farmers will still be driving tractors on 1 January and the failure of the Government to cut the carbon tax on green diesel will penalise

contractors. I know many people from my community who went out onto the streets to demand that something be done because the cost of living, especially the cost of energy, was putting so much pressure on so many people. While Government talks about targeted measures for the agricultural

estimated cost of €73 million. This scheme has been vital to support the sector. The fuel income support scheme for farmers and farm contractors will also be extended to December 2026. An EU exceptional aid scheme will be introduced to compensate farmers impacted by higher fertiliser and energy … costs, with €15.3 million in EU funding being topped up by 200% with €30.8 million in Exchequer funding from the existing Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine allocation. The programme for Government commits to bringing down the cost of childcare to €200 per child per month. This

retailers and it is stark. I have a suggestion. As the Taoiseach knows, we had a fuel subsidy scheme in the Department of agriculture. Not all of that has been drawn down. The money is there. It is in a box. It is there, sidelined for this issue … been shut. I have met many people over a number of weeks. Could that scheme be opened again for farmers and contractors to avail of it - people who were not in time and for different reasons

delighted to speak this evening. As a rural TD, I have always strongly advocated for the haulage and agricultural sectors, which are interwoven in many respects. The recent protests were a sign that not only was the Government moving in the wrong direction, but it had completely taken … with many hard-working, decent and genuine people at the protests in Tullamore, Birr and Cloghan where I heard directly from many agri-contractors in particular and small haulage companies trying to deal with the fact that their businesses were on a knife edge, ready

will be able to qualify for it who could not qualify for it before. That is a good thing. With regard to agriculture, I welcome the extension of the fuel subvention scheme. People who applied before and received money will be able to apply for further funding … people into the net because the funding was set aside for it and we should be able to direct that at farmers and contractors who maybe did not qualify before. This must be looked at. Very positively, the carbon tax on home heating oil is reverting

Government on the floor of the Dáil what was going to happen. Sure enough, what happened was a revolt. When farmers and contractors went to the trouble of protesting, the Government, after several days of blackening those people, announced a bigger scheme for farmers worth €100 million. Ministers … vast majority of farmers I have spoken to in County Mayo are ineligible. They cannot apply. They listened to the Minister for agriculture and many other Ministers on radio promising relief. When they looked at the detail of the scheme, they saw it is calculated so that

talk on the Finance Bill and not recognise the package put in place was such a large and substantial sum of money. On agriculture and the marine, that fund was put in place in a very timely fashion. Yes, administration had to be dealt with but I want … Deputy Heydon, for chairing all those meetings and being so diligent dealing with the representatives from all the groups, whether it was the contractors, the marine people, the fishers or the farmers, to try to deliver something that would be substantial enough that it would make a difference

Brien. He said the scheme was being worked on but that he was not responsible for it, and that the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, was not responsible for it either. In all the signals the Tánaiste has been giving lately about the budget, he seems to have … civil engineering companies, and even small sole traders, are struggling owing to the savage increase in the cost of green diesel. These contractors and operators are involved in building houses and roads, sewerage and water schemes, industrial units and factories, and in energy projects involving wind, solar

this Government for ACRES comes from the carbon tax. It is 60% funded by the Government and 40% by the European Union Common Agricultural Policy. I would take the Deputy's point. The Minister is doing everything he can to improve and enhance the administrative capacity of ACRES … terms of farmers, usage of fuel - some categories of farming have a higher usage of fuel than others - and then the farm contractors as well. We are fully aware of the need to have a seamless and a proper delivery system in place

variety of reasons, including prolonged warm or dry weather, humidity, reduced wastewater flows, increased biological activity and seawater infiltration, wind direction and agricultural activities can also be contributing factors. As the Deputy outlined, the primary cause of the odour locally is septicity in the wastewater network. When wastewater … this instance. The Deputy will know from the response he received that Uisce Éireann is making improvements and is carrying out early contractor involvement, ECI, works at Atlantic Pond and Ballinure to upgrade the sites there. As part of these works, Uisce Éireann will be introducing septicity dosing