Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan has said the Government’s over €46 million Fertiliser Exceptional Aid Scheme will provide significant support to farmers struggling with rising input costs.
The funding combines Ireland’s €15.38 million allocation from the EU Fertiliser Exceptional Aid package with the maximum allowable national top-up of 200% or €30.8m.
Deputy McGreehan said: “This aid scheme will provide practical support for Irish farmers who are dealing with continued pressure on input costs arising from the Middle East crisis. Farmers will receive these critical financial supports before the end of the year.
The scheme will use existing data on purchases of fertiliser held on the National Fertiliser Database for the 2025 Fertiliser year (15 September 2024 to 14 September 2025) to identify farmers most impacted by higher input costs, to define eligibility for payment and to calculate payments. This will minimise the administrative burden on farmers and ensure payments are made to farmers before the end of 2026.
By taking this approach, farmers will not have to apply to avail of support under the Scheme. Eligibility and payment rates will be based on the following criteria:
- BISS Active Status: Farmers must have submitted valid applications for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme in 2026.
- National Fertiliser Database (NFD) registration: Farmers must be registered on the National Fertiliser Database as a Fertiliser End User (FEU).
- Fertiliser purchase data: Payments will be calculated directly from purchasing data recorded on the NFD for 205 fertiliser year – 15 September 2024 – 14 September 2025.
Deputy McGreehan added: “The scheme is going to remove the need for farmers to apply for these funds. It will be based on previous payments. This is hugely welcome.”
She added: “Fianna Fáil will always back the small family farm. Family farms are the backbone of rural Ireland and this funding is in recognition of the pressures they are currently under.”
For further information, reach out to Erin McGreehan.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- The National Fertiliser Database is an online system established by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Fertilisers, Feeding Stuffs and Mineral Mixtures Act 1955, as amended. It records fertiliser and lime transactions throughout the supply chain.
- Farmers can review their fertiliser purchase records through MyAgFood.ie.
- Where a fertiliser purchase is missing or incorrect, the farmer should contact the fertiliser merchant who supplied the fertiliser in the first instance, as the merchant is responsible for recording the sale on the NFD.
- Where the issue relates to information that the farmer is responsible for recording, the relevant information should be submitted through MyAgFood.ie.
- For queries or corrections relating to NFD records, farmers should contact the NFD Helpdesk at NFD@agriculture.gov.ie.
