Richard O'Donoghue raises exclusion of plant hire from fuel scheme
Richard O'Donoghue questions why plant hire and plant tyre operators who perform agricultural work are being excluded from the Government's agricultural fuel support scheme. The Minister responds that the scheme is defined by state aid EU rules, that green diesel tied to agricultural production is covered, and that separate support for the plant industry is being developed.
Question on eligibility
Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked why many plant hire or plant tyre businesses doing agricultural work do not qualify for the agri-sector fuel support scheme. He pressed for clarity on whether anyone doing agricultural operations should be eligible and argued there is also a construction-side need for support to reduce costs.
Minister's reply and legal limits
The Minister said thousands of farmers and farm contractors have applied and that the scheme contains a clear definition of agricultural activity. Under state aid EU rules the Government must specify activities linked to agricultural production; where green diesel or mark gas oil is directly linked to production, it is covered.
Implications for plant industry
The Minister acknowledged the position of plant operators and stated the Government has committed to and is working on separate lines of support for those in the plant industry. The exchange highlights unresolved questions for plant hire firms, contractors and construction operators seeking parity in fuel support.
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Thank you, Ceann Comhairle. Taoiseach, on the scheme that you brought out for the agri-sector for the fuel, some of the sectors are saying that unless you're under an agricultural contractor you don't qualify for the scheme. So we've an awful lot of plant tire people that actually do agricultural work, but they don't qualify for the scheme. So we have people that might be registered as a plant tire, so whatever plant tire company they are, but do agri-works, they don't qualify for the scheme. So why is that? Why, if you're doing agricultural work, you should qualify for the scheme? And also from the point of view of all the construction side of it, there should be something there for the plant tire within the construction side of it as well. It helps bring down the costs. Thank you, Taoiseach. Oh, sorry, Minister. Ceann Comhairle, thank you very much, Deputy Donoghue. Delighted to see thousands of farmers and farm contractors applying for our fuel support scheme for them. That has very clear definition and under state aid EU rules we have to define that agricultural activity and it is with the production of agriculture. Government has committed to and is working on separate lines of support for those in the plant industry. But where agricultural contractors are using green diesel or mark gas oil and it's directly linked to the production of agricultural produce, then that is covered under the scheme.
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