Fuel support scheme opens for specialist horticulture growers
Scheme forms part of the Government’s €100 million package of fuel income supports for farmers, fishers and agri contractors
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD and Minister of State with responsibility for Horticulture Niall Collins TD have announced the opening of the Fuel Support Scheme for Specialist Horticulture, aimed at helping growers cope with rising energy costs.
The scheme forms part of the Government’s €100 million package of fuel income supports for farmers, fishers and agricultural contractors introduced in response to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East and its impact on fuel prices.
Announcing the scheme, Minister Heydon said specialist horticulture growers have faced substantial increases in fuel costs in recent months, adding further pressure to a sector already dealing with rising input expenses. He said the support would help offset some of those additional costs and provide much-needed assistance to growers.
Minister Collins said the Government recognised the exceptional challenges facing specialist horticulture producers and stressed the importance of supporting the sector’s long-term sustainability. He noted that the National Horticulture Strategy depends on a strong economic foundation for growers and described the financial package as a vital measure to protect the industry.
The scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible commercial horticulture growers producing crops including tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms, strawberries, chillies, herbs and hydroponically grown lettuce. Eligibility will be based on recorded fuel usage for primary production during the previous year and applies to growers using approved fuels in eligible production structures.
Applications for the Fuel Support Scheme for Specialist Horticulture are now open and must be submitted online by midnight on Wednesday, 24 June 2026.
Payments will be issued once State Aid approval has been received by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in line with EU Temporary Crisis Framework and State Aid rules.