More than 30,000 applications have been made to the Government's fuel support scheme for farmers and agricultural contractors over the past month.
The scheme opened this day four weeks ago with the deadline for applications extended to next week due to the number of applications to date.
The supports were announced off the back of April's fuel protests which included the blockade of Ireland's oil refinery at Whitegate in County Cork.
Payments due to applicants will be calculated once all claims have been submitted.
However, it's understood the average payment per farmer will equate to around €650.
The average payment per contractor is expected to work out at about €6,000 although much larger contractors would be entitled to multiples of that.
Payments are due by the end of June.
"We have seen a strong response to the Fuel Income Support Scheme among farmers and contractors to date including a large number of applications received over the weekend and the past two days," said the Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon.
"As I am conscious that farmers will be extremely busy during the current spell of weather, I am extending the deadline for the fuel support scheme. I want to ensure that no one is left behind", he added.
The Department of Transport last week opened a similar scheme for hauliers, with approximately 1,500 applications for support to date.
This scheme remains open until 12 June.
