The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has called on the Government to ensure that the full €100 million originally allocated to support the agricultural and forestry contracting sector is retained and used for its intended purpose.
With green diesel prices continuing to remain at elevated levels, FCI believes that any unspent funding from the Fuel Income Support Scheme should be used to extend the scheme through August, September and October.
FCI Managing Director Ann Gleeson Hanrahan said: “Green diesel prices remain substantially higher than historic norms, placing continued financial pressure on farm and forestry contractors across the country; the need for targeted fuel support has not diminished, if anything it has increased.”
“Any unspent funding from the Fuel Income Support Scheme should be reinvested in the sector by extending the scheme through August, September and October. This would ensure that the full €100 million committed by Government is used for the purpose for which it was intended” she added.
“Contractors play a vital role in supporting Ireland’s farming and forestry sectors. As fuel prices continue to fluctuate, both contractors and farmers will require ongoing support to manage these exceptional operating costs. Retaining the full allocation within the sector would provide much-needed certainty during a period of continued volatility.
Further, all of the fuel supports introduced in March and April of this year – the reduction of excise duty and NORA levy – should remain in place until the fuel crisis comes to an end” she concluded.
