The scheme, which coincides with peak fuel usage for seasonal field work, is designed to combat a sharp rise in the price of marked gas oil (green diesel), which has nearly doubled from €0.97 per litre in February to €1.80 in recent weeks.
The subsidy will provide approximately 20 cents per litre of support based on verified 2025 fuel consumption.
Approximately 120,000 farmers and 1,500 full-time agricultural contractors are expected to be eligible for the payments, which will cover the period from March through the end of July.
Additionally, €5 million per month has been allocated to support fishers, forestry, and specialist horticulture sectors.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said it has commenced intensive preparations to implement the scheme as quickly as possible.
Minister Heydon stated the package is intended to provide “meaningful assistance” to those most exposed to rising costs while sustaining essential food production.
This subsidy is part of a larger €505 million package announced by the Government today. Key measures include:
A 10-cent reduction in excise duty for petrol and diesel, with a 2.4-cent reduction for green diesel, effective from midnight Tuesday.The deferral of the scheduled Carbon Tax increase from May until the Budget in October.The extension of temporary excise duty reductions until the end of July.
Minister of State Timmy Dooley noted that while the Government is working to alleviate concerns, it cannot “entirely shield” the country from the global impacts of the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The announcements follow days of significant disruption as protesters mounted blockades at major ports and oil depots in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway.
While the blockade at Rosslare Europort was lifted on Sunday afternoon, rolling demonstrations involving trucks and farm machinery continued to cause major traffic delays across the country.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned the blockades as “illegal,” stating that no “self-appointed group” has the right to prevent emergency services from operating or to threaten national fuel supplies.
He warned that if blockades at critical sites like the Whitegate refinery recur, “the full rigours of the law will be applied”.
Protest organiser Christopher Duffy criticised the Garda response to demonstrations on O’Connell Street as “overkill,” claiming protesters were “ambushed” and forced to move expensive machinery under threat of it being towed and damaged.
Duffy has since called for a “National day of strike and protest” for Monday, April 13th.
The Government also faces intensifying political pressure.
Sinn Féin has tabled a motion of no confidence for next week, which the Labour Party has confirmed it will support.
Within the Coalition, some backbench TDs have voiced frustration over a perceived “delay in putting forward a meaningful and substantial package,” describing the past week as a “baptism of fire” for rural representatives.
Former Minister Ned O’Keeffe further criticised the Government’s long-term energy strategy, arguing that Ireland has “totally ignored” its own gas reserves off the west and south coasts and should urgently reopen the Barryroe oil and gas field to reduce dependence on imports.