Full details of €100m Fuel Support Scheme finally revealed
The government today (Wednesday, April 29) unveiled the full details of a €100 million fuel support scheme for farmers and contractors and confirmed applications are set to open from next week.
The targeted package, designed to ease the burden of soaring green diesel prices, will cover fuel usage from March through to the end of July and is based on verified consumption from last year.
Farmers, along with farm and forestry contractors, will be eligible for payments of approximately 20 cent per litre - or €200 per 1,000 litres but this is "based on verified fuel usage in 2025".
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon today announced the full details of the Road Transporters Support Scheme (RTSS) for hauliers, ‘own account’ road haulage operators, and bus and coach operators, and the new Fuel Support Scheme for farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers.
Minister Heydon said: "The government recognises the exceptional pressure that rising fuel costs are placing on our farmers, farm contractors and fishers.
"My department is ready to open the farmers and farm contractors scheme for applications in early May, subject to the necessary approvals, with payment to issue thereafter.
"This targeted and practical support package based on actual fuel usage last year ensures that those most exposed to these increases will receive meaningful assistance.”
Farmers and contractors today have been advised that under the scheme there will be one payment per applicant to cover a full five-month period rather than monthly payments.
According to the terms of the scheme applicants will be asked to "supply their usage for the 12 months of 2025 based on receipted expenditure".
The applicant will have to make a self-declaration of usage based on statements or receipts which may be subject to risk-based checks.
Specifcially for farm and forestry contractors, the scheme will require that they must be registered for VAT, tax compliant and must supply services for primary production of agricultural products (including forestry) on farm.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) "subject to the necessary sanction and state aid processes" it is planned to open the scheme for application before the middle of May for 3-4 weeks, with payment to issue thereafter.
