Carbon taxes are penalising people who have "no alternative but to drive tractors and machinery that use green diesel," according to Sinn Féin.

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture and Food, Martin Kenny, today (Wednesday, October 7) also claimed that farmers and contractors "are going to be left behind by government again when it comes to fuel support in 2027".

The Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers, confirmed yesterday that as part of Budget 2027 the Fuel Income Support Scheme will be extended to cover a further five month period in 2026.

The scheme originally opened this year with a budget of €80 million to provide support to farmers and contractors dealing with large increases in green diesel costs.

However Deputy Kenny said that the measure announced in the budget yesterday "failed to provide any support for farmers or farm contractors in relation to increases in the cost of green diesel for 2027".

“Does the Tánaiste think that farmers are going to stop driving their tractors come the 1st of January," the Sinn Féin TD for Sligo-Leitrim asked.

Deputy Kenny said that currently the government has not provided "any support" on green diesel from January 1.

He is also warning that farmers and contractors could face higher diesel costs next year because the National Oil Reserves Agency Levy (NORA) "will be added back to the price at the pump".

Taxes

Deputy Kenny said Sinn Féin has called for a reduction in carbon tax on green diesel and for it to be "cut at the pump".

"Farmers and farm contractors have no alternative but to drive tractors and machinery that use green diesel and carbon taxes are penalising them for doing so.“It is effectively a tax on their work and livelihood.“The fuel crisis will not end for farmers or farm contractors on December 31, they need to be supported in 2027 the same as everyone else," Deputy Kenny said.