Farmers and agri contractors will receive their share of the 20c/l green diesel rebate announced by Government under the €100m Fuel Support Scheme before the end of June, according to Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.

Minister Heydon said that the basing of the support on 2025’s usage, rather than actual 2026 volumes, will allow for payments to issue more promptly than other Department of Agriculture payment schemes would.

The rebate will be paid out on five-twelfths of an applicant’s 2025 green diesel usage instead of their usage between March and July 2026.

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“Farmers and farm contractors will be able to apply for the new €100m fuel support scheme from next week,” Minister Heydon told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“For farmers, they will go through the Ag food system. It'll be a straightforward box to be ticked, similar to the tillage application scheme and the detail farmers will need to have is their fuel usage throughout 2025.

“That's what the figure they'll need to give, and then we'll calculate it on a pro rata basis, on the five months of usage.”

Contractors will apply through a paper-based system and will have to show that they are VAT registered and tax compliant, as well as having to attach 2025’s fuel receipts.

A provision has been made to include new entrants to farming and agri contracting in the scheme also.

For contractors, because we've never had a scheme for contractors before, it will be a paper based system.

“We have recognised this is the most intensive time of the year. I based it on 2025 so I can get money out to farmers earlier,” the minister continued.

“If I based it on this year's usage, on specific usage in 2026, I wouldn't be able to pay them until after the period ends, beyond the end of July.

“People needed the money quick. This will be a very fair reflection.”