FCI welcomes extension of fuel income support scheme
The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has welcomed the government's decision to extend the fuel support scheme for farmers.
Ann Gleeson Hanrahan, managing director of the FCI, said: "Our members have been under severe pressure since the war broke out in the Middle East, with ongoing volatility in fuel prices creating significant challenges for contracting businesses.
"The extension of the scheme will provide much-needed support to businesses facing these continued cost pressures."
Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris announced the extension of the scheme earlier today (September 24).
He said: “We were all at the ploughing last week, we heard very clearly three issues; fuel, fodder and fertiliser. I call them the three ‘F’s'.
“There will be support for farmers with fodder and fertiliser.”
He added the government is “now working to extend the fuel support scheme for farmers”.
On social media, he added: “We're working through the details now and they will be finalised in the coming days."
The Fuel Income Support Scheme was introduced by the government as a targeted income support to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers facing unprecedented increases in fuel costs.
The support followed a series of fuel protests and blockades across the country by farmers, contractors and hauliers who said soaring energy costs were making their businesses unviable.
Urgent
Earlier this month (September 2), FCI sought an "urgent" meeting with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon after green diesel prices hit a peak for the year in August.
The association publicly called on the minister to "urgently respond to recent letters requesting a meeting with his department".
The FCI said that, according to its own data, the monthly average price of marked gas oil - informally referred to as green diesel - in 2026 peaked in August.
Minister Heydon commented today on the extension of the fuel support scheme.
In a statement to Agriland, Minister Heydon said: “I understand that fuel prices are still high and the price of green diesel is elevated which is hard on farmers.
"That’s why I’m working on a second tranche of payments for the agri-sector as part of our ongoing budget negotiations’
