O’Shea Welcomes Fertiliser Support Package for Farmers Across Cork North West

Fine Gael TD for Cork North West, John Paul O’Shea, has welcomed the announcement of a €46.2 million Fertiliser Exceptional Aid Scheme to support farmers facing increased input costs arising from the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

The package, announced by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, combines Ireland’s EU allocation with the maximum permitted national top-up. Payments will be made before the end of 2026, with no application required.

Deputy O’Shea said: “Farmers across Cork North West are under considerable pressure from rising costs, with fertiliser remaining a major expense for many farms. This €46.2 million package is welcome and will provide practical financial support before the end of the year.

“I am particularly pleased that the Government has committed the maximum national top-up available and that farmers will not have to complete an additional application to receive this support.”

Payments will be calculated using fertiliser purchases recorded on the National Fertiliser Database for the 2025 fertiliser year, covering 15 September 2024 to 14 September 2025.

The announced payment rate is €40 per tonne, with a minimum eligible purchase of 2.5 tonnes and a minimum payment of €100. The final maximum payable tonnage will be confirmed by the Department, subject to a ceiling of 100 tonnes per farmer.

Farmers must have submitted a valid 2026 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application and be registered as a Fertiliser End User on the National Fertiliser Database.

Deputy O’Shea urged farmers and fertiliser merchants to check their records ahead of the Department’s data extraction on 23 October 2026.

“The key message for farmers locally is to ensure that their fertiliser purchase records are accurate and fully up to date before 23 October. Farmers should check with their suppliers that all relevant purchases have been correctly recorded, as these records will determine eligibility and payment amounts,” he said.

The Minister has also proposed using 2026 fertiliser purchase records for eligible new entrant and young farmers who began farming this year and have no purchase records for the 2025 fertiliser year. Provision is also being made for horticultural producers who do not apply for BISS but hold the relevant Department registration for 2026.

“Our farming families make an enormous contribution to the economy and community life of Cork North West. This support will help ease the pressure on farm finances at a challenging time,” Deputy O’Shea concluded.