10/09/2026
There is nothing ‘normal’ about diesel costing more than €2 a litre, and the Irish people should not be expected to simply accept it.”
Fitzmaurice: Government must act now as fuel costs cripple farmers and contractors - Taoiseach's "New Normal" Comments "Extraordinary"
€85m fuel support must be ring-fenced and unused funding redirected to those struggling with soaring green diesel costs
Independent Ireland Agriculture Spokesperson Michael Fitzmaurice TD has called on Agriculture Minister Martin Hayden to urgently intervene over soaring fuel costs, warning that farmers and agricultural contractors are being pushed to the limit.
Deputy Fitzmaurice said the Government cannot sit on allocated funding while farmers and contractors face green diesel prices approaching €1.50 per litre.
“Minister Hayden came before the Agriculture Committee and made it very clear that the 20 cent figure being discussed for the fuel support was an indicative figure. He is on the record on that.
“We were told that €85 million was being made available for farmers and contractors, yet only around €26 million has been claimed so far.
“There is clearly money within that allocation that has not been used. That money must not simply disappear back into the Exchequer. It should be ring-fenced for fuel support and used to help the very people it was intended to support.”
Deputy Fitzmaurice said the Government should extend the fuel support for a further five months, using the unspent allocation to provide immediate relief.
“Green diesel is now heading towards €1.50 a litre. This is crippling farmers and contractors. These are people who have no choice but to use fuel — you cannot run a tractor, harvest crops, cut silage or operate agricultural machinery without it.
“The Government needs to understand the reality on the ground. Farmers and contractors are already dealing with enormous input costs, and fuel is another major burden.
“If the money has been allocated, use it for the purpose it was allocated for. We should be looking at another five months of support for farmers and contractors immediately.”
Fitzmaurice demands action on fertiliser costs
Deputy Fitzmaurice said the approximately €15 million in EU support for farmers is welcome but completely inadequate given the scale of rising fertiliser costs, and called on Minister Hayden to provide additional funding in the Budget.
“€15 million from Europe is a paltry sum when you consider the huge increase in fertiliser costs facing farmers. The Minister cannot simply point to this fund and say the job is done.
“He needs to secure additional money in his own Budget to build on the European funding. This must be new money for agriculture, not simply recycled or taken away from an already inadequate budget. Farmers are facing huge input costs, and the Government needs to step up and provide real support.”
Europe has given a fund towards this (15 million approx) but the minister needs to get a budget within his own figure - there is a european fund but we need a fund to add on to it as the figures europe is giving is an insult
Government must also address soaring home-heating costs
Deputy Fitzmaurice said the Government must look beyond agriculture and address the impact of rising energy costs on households.
“People across rural Ireland are also facing ferociously high kerosene prices heading into the winter.
“With wars and instability continuing internationally and energy prices putting huge pressure on households, this is a time for Government to look after its own people.
“There is additional money coming into the Exchequer. The Government needs to use some of that money to protect families, farmers, contractors and businesses from costs that are becoming increasingly difficult to absorb.”
Haulage supports must be broadened
Deputy Fitzmaurice also called for a review of fuel rebate schemes affecting businesses carrying their own goods.
“We also need to look again at the haulage sector and, in particular, businesses carrying their own goods.
“There are businesses employing people, producing goods and moving those goods around the country that can fall outside the major rebate because of the requirements around a haulage licence.
“That is simply not good enough. If a business is using fuel to transport its own goods as part of its operation, the Government needs to recognise that.
“I am calling on Minister Hayden and the Government to review the eligibility criteria immediately and ensure that businesses are not being unfairly excluded from fuel supports simply because they do not hold a particular type of haulage licence.
“The message to Government is straightforward: the money is there, the need is there and the pressure is increasing. Stop sitting on the funding and start putting it into the pockets of the farmers, contractors and businesses who are keeping this country moving.”
Taoiseach's "New Normal" Comments on €2 Diesel Extraordinary
Fitzmaurice said the Taoiseach’s comments that diesel prices of more than €2 per litre could become the “new norm” were shocking and showed a Government that appears to have given up on finding solutions.
“The Taoiseach should be working every day to bring down the cost of fuel for families, farmers, hauliers, tradespeople and businesses — not telling people that they simply have to accept €2-plus diesel as the new normal. That is an extraordinary admission from a Taoiseach. People are already under enormous pressure from the cost of living, and rural Ireland in particular has few alternatives to the car and commercial vehicle. We need a Government that fights to reduce costs, not one that throws its hands in the air and tells people to get used to them. There is nothing ‘normal’ about diesel costing more than €2 a litre, and the Irish people should not be expected to simply accept it.”
