Ministers to update Cabinet on fuel support scheme

Ministers for Transport and Agriculture are set to update Cabinet on a comprehensive fuel support scheme aimed at several key sectors including haulage, construction, agriculture, quarries, and fisheries. The initiative follows widespread protests over rising energy costs that disrupted transport and supply chains. The Government has allocated over €500 million in energy supports, with financial aid targeting up to 120,000 farmers and 1,500 full-time agricultural contractors, alongside a €15 million allocation for fisheries and aquaculture. The package, combined with earlier excise cuts, effectively reduces the cost of 1,000 litres of green diesel by €274, covering the period from March through July. The scheme also extends to building contractors and quarries, with an estimated 50,000 vehicles, including buses, eligible for the Road Transporters Support Scheme. The Department of Transport projects that an average haulage business could receive payments around €16,230. This targeted support aims to alleviate the financial strain caused by soaring fuel prices, which have significantly impacted operational costs across these sectors, helping to stabilize key industries and prevent further disruptions. In related Cabinet business, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Robert Troy will seek approval for the ‘Right to be Forgotten’ legislation, which reduces the remission period for cancer survivors from seven to five years for mortgage protection insurance eligibility. This change is expected to benefit approximately 139 additional survivors annually, ensuring fairer access to financial products. The legislation will replace the current voluntary Code of Practice and increase the mortgage protection cover threshold from €500,000 to €650,000. Additionally, Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary will propose a new Domestic Violence Travel Supplement, offering free travel for individuals fleeing domestic violence. The scheme will be non-means tested for the first three months and tailored to individual needs, following consultations with Social Democrats Senator Patricia Stephenson. The Cabinet will also review a report from the Taoiseach on the ethical development and deployment of artificial intelligence, focusing on supporting economic growth, environmental sustainability, and societal benefits through five priority areas.