€550,000 of fuel support payments for Westmeath
Some 730 payments worth €550,000 are now being issued to farmers and agricultural contractors in County Westmeath.
Fianna Fáil Minister of State Robert Troy welcomed the commencement of payments under the Fuel Income Support Scheme, which was introduced as a targeted measure to assist farmers and agricultural contractors who experienced significant increases in fuel costs during spring 2026. The scheme covers the period from March to July 2026.
Payments are calculated based on the equivalent of five months of usage of marked gas oil by each applicant in 2025, at a rate of 20 cent per litre.
Nationally, €20.7 million is now being paid to 29,464 farmers and agricultural contractors; payments are expected to arrive in bank accounts over the coming days.
The average payment for agricultural contractors is approximately €4,000, and for farmers more than €600.
Minister Troy said: “The recent instability in the Middle East has driven significant increases in fuel costs, creating additional pressure for businesses and key sectors across Ireland. Farmers and agricultural contractors have been particularly affected because of their reliance on fuel for day to day operations.
“The agricultural sector has been uniquely impacted and, therefore, required a unique response.
“These payments will provide timely financial support, helping to ease some of those additional costs and offering much needed certainty at a challenging time.
“A strong farming sector is essential to our economy and our food supply. By helping to reduce the cost pressures facing farmers and agricultural contractors, these supports will also help protect consumers by limiting the risk of increased prices being passed on at the shelf.”
County, Number of Payments, Amount of Payments (€)
Carlow, 558, €433,610.40
Cavan, 1,100, €663,834.71
Clare, 1,326, €563,769.14
Cork, 4,350, €3,152,000.78
Donegal, 1,040, €666,333.45
Dublin, 175, €197,958.92
Galway, 2,063, €1,002,839.01
Kerry, 1,503, €937,915.11
Kildare, 608, €539,487.03
Kilkenny, 1,273, €1,161,285.80
Laois, 1,037, €796,721.99
Leitrim, 511, €166,869.91
Limerick, 1,429, €939,243.19
Longford, 531, €342,045.99
Louth, 367, €489,784.25
Mayo, 1,272, €600,322.96
Meath, 972, €1,035,606.79
Monaghan, 932, €607,734.11
Offaly, 946, €661,123.58
Roscommon, 952, €423,985.52
Sligo, 626, €286,424.65
Tipperary, 2,180, €1,764,430.69
Waterford, 852, €782,826.89
Westmeath, 731, €549,021.83
Wexford, 1,523, €1,441,808.07
Wicklow, 607, €527,351.06
Total, 29,464, €20,734,335.81