Over one million in payments for Galway farmers and contractors, under Fuel Income Support Scheme

The Fuel Income Support Scheme has officially commenced with payments beginning as of now, the Government have confirmed.

The Fuel Income Support Scheme was introduced as income support to assist farmers, workers and agricultural contractors who were facing increases in fuel costs.

To coincide with peak usage on their farms, the payments aim to cover the period from March up to the end of July this year. To qualify, activities covered under the scheme must be agriculture and forestry related.

The minimum payment under the new scheme is €100, and the maximum is €50,000, with the average payment for a contractor being €4,000, and farmers are €600.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said: “The Fuel Income Support Scheme was introduced as a targeted income support for farmers and agricultural contractors who had experienced unprecedented increases in fuel costs this spring.

“I am delighted that €20.7 million in payments have now commenced issuing to 29,464 farmers and contractors and in the coming days they will see money arriving in their bank accounts. This is the first batch of farmers and contractors cleared for payment, and further payments will issue on an ongoing basis once cases are cleared. This scheme and the issuing of payments in a timely manner shows that Government can and will support the agricultural industry through difficult times.”

A full breakdown of payments per county: