Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2026
35. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been paid out to date to farmers, fishermen, farm contractors and small businesses under the cost of fuel income support scheme. [40349/26]
View answerMy Department has introduced significant supports as a targeted income support to assist farmers, fishers and agricultural/forestry contractors facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs.
Under this heading, my Department is operating three distinct fuel support schemes:
• Fuel Income Support Scheme (Farmers and Contractors)
• Fuel Support Scheme for Specialist Horticulture
• Fishing and Aquaculture Registered Vessel Fuel Support Scheme
The Fuel Income Support Scheme takes the form of an income support calculated on Marked Gas Oil (MGO) use in the agricultural and forestry sectors. Applicants were required to provide the total litres of MGO used in 2025 solely for agricultural or forestry purposes. This historical information will be used in the calculation of the support payment.
The Fuel Support Scheme for Specialist Horticulture has been introduced to support specialist horticultural growers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs. The scheme will provide a once off payment to specialist horticulture growers to help mitigate the continued increases in fuel costs and is open to commercial horticulture growers producing tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, strawberries, chillies, herbs and hydroponically grown lettuce in an eligible structure using an eligible fuel. Similar to the Fuel Income Support Scheme, the final payment will be determined once final processing and checks on the received applications are completed.
The Fishing and Aquaculture Registered Vessel Fuel Support Scheme with a maximum fund of some €15m closed for applications on Wednesday 17th June, after an extension from the previous Friday. Payments are anticipated to commence in July. 487 applications have been received and in line with other support schemes from my Department the total payment for each applicant will be calculated once all checks have been completed.
While my Department is currently carrying out final processing of applications, it is anticipated that payments will commence issuing before the end of July.
