Ministers announce €120 million Road Transporters Support Scheme and €100 million Fuel Support Scheme
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Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon today announced details of the Road Transporters Support Scheme (RTSS) for hauliers, ‘own account’ road haulage operators and bus and coach operators, and the new Fuel Support Scheme for farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers.
The RTSS supports the road transport sector in recognition of its essential role in Ireland’s supply chains, for businesses and in providing essential connectivity across both urban and rural communities. The scheme provides significant financial support to help meet the challenges posed by increased fuel costs arising from the war in the Middle East.
“The Road Transporters Support Scheme recognises the vital role played every day by hauliers and bus and coach operators in keeping Ireland moving, supporting jobs, and maintaining our essential supply chains. This targeted support is designed to relieve immediate cost pressures while ensuring continuity of services for families, businesses and communities across the country. It reflects our strong commitment to working closely with the sector to protect capacity and resilience at a critical time.”
“I and my team in the Department have worked closely with stakeholders to deliver these meaningful supports. The RTSS will be administered by the Department of Transport, and significant progress has been made in developing the system and application process.”
Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien
“The Government recognises the exceptional pressure that rising fuel costs are placing on our farmers, farm contractors and fishers. My Department is ready to open the farmers and farm contractors scheme for applications in early May, subject to the necessary approvals, with payment to issue thereafter. This targeted and practical support package based on actual fuel usage last year ensures that those most exposed to these increases will receive meaningful assistance.”
“A fuel support scheme for fishers and aquaculture tailored to the specific needs of that sector will be operated separately by Bord Iascaigh Mhara on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It will also be calculated on the basis of fuel consumption with specific eligibility criteria for the different categories of fishers. It is also anticipated that the scheme will open in May.”
Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon
“The haulage sector is of national strategic importance, bringing essential supplies into and around the State, supporting key infrastructure and enabling the maintenance of all economic and social activity in our country. The road transport sector faces a challenging operating environment. Higher prices for hauliers lead to secondary price rises across all sectors they supply, and feed into higher prices across the country.
“The RTSS will support hauliers and transport operators to face these challenges and continue to play their vital role in our economy.
“I also welcome the €100 million Fuel Support Scheme to assist farmers, agricultural contractors and fishers. As a rural TD, I know how higher prices have impacted on these sectors and this scheme will support those people to maintain their essential work across the country.”
Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney
The scheme will be open to licensed and ‘own account’ road haulage operators and licensed road passenger transport operators.
It will also support commercial passenger transport operators and school transport providers, who play a critical role in in the economy. Support for operators of TFI Local Link Services will be available through the NTA, while support for school transport services will be facilitated by the Department of Education and Youth. Transport services to islands will be facilitated by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
These supports complement the wider package of the reduction in Excise rates, the NORA levy, and the increased rebate rate allowed under the Diesel Rebate Scheme. The overall supports provided by Government reflect the needs communicated by the sector's representative bodies over many engagements, and respond to the stated needs of the sector.
The RTSS will initially apply for March 2026, with further payments for April and May depending on average national diesel prices, as measured by the CSO, exceeding €1.90 per litre. This threshold reflects the point at which fuel costs become unsustainable for many commercial transport operators.
Applications can be made through an online portal, expected to open in May.
The fuel support scheme for farmers and farm and forestry contractors will cover the months of March up to the end of July and is an income support scheme aimed at those most impacted by the sudden increase in the cost of Market Gas Oil (MGO) Eligibility for the scheme will be based on use of MGO for primary production of agricultural products on farm (including forestry) last year. Both farmers and farm and forestry contractors will be eligible to apply. Farmers and agricultural contractors will benefit from a support rate equivalent to approximately 20 cents per litre or €200 per 1,000 litres of marked gas oil based on verified fuel usage in 2025.
Under the scheme there will be one payment per applicant to cover a full five-month period rather than monthly payments. Applicants will be asked to supply their usage for the 12 months of 2025 based on receipted expenditure. The applicant will make a self-declaration of usage based on statements or receipts which may be subject to risk-based checks. For farm and forestry contractors, the scheme will require that they must be registered for VAT, tax compliant and must supply services for primary production of agricultural products (including forestry) on farm.
Ministers of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Noel Grealish and Timmy Dooley, who were also involved in the intensive period of engagement with the stakeholders, also welcomed the scheme.
The Government is today also launching a communications campaign designed to support householders and businesses to manage their energy costs. As well as highlighting the €755 million package of supports including those announced today, the campaign points to long term supports and grants available to households, farms, contractors and businesses to lower their energy costs. The campaign also shares advice on immediate steps households can take now to save energy and save money.
Notes
Eligibility for RTSS
To qualify for support under the RTSS, applicants must, on 1 March 2026, be:
- A holder of a road haulage operator licence issued by the Department of Transport; or
- An operator whose normal commercial activity relates to the carriage of goods by road but who is not required to hold a haulage licence (“own account” operators); or
- A holder of a passenger operator licence issued by the Department of Transport.
RTSS Payments Structure and Rates
Payments will be graduated based on the numbers of vehicles on an operator's licence. The graduated approach means that smaller businesses will be receiving a proportionately greater level of support.
Number of Vehicles Owned
Payment
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Fuel Support Schemes
Eligibility for the farm and farm and forestry contractors scheme will be determined by:
- Use of MGO (road diesel usage is not eligible)
- Use of MGO must be for primary production of agricultural products on farm (including forestry)
- Farmers and Farm or Forestry Contractors are eligible to apply.
Under the scheme there will be one payment per applicant to cover a full five-month period rather than monthly payments. Applicants will be asked to supply their usage for the 12 months of 2025 based on receipted expenditure. The applicant will make a self-declaration of usage based on statements or receipts which they hold and which may be subject to risk-based checks.
For farm and forestry contractors, the scheme will require that they must be registered for VAT, tax compliant and must supply services for primary production of agricultural products (including forestry) on farm.
“Saving Energy Saves Money” Communications Campaign
Building on the “Reduce Your Use” campaign that responded to the energy crisis prompted by the war in Ukraine, “Saving Energy Saves Money” identifies a range of Government supports as well as actions people can take to reduce energy and fuel costs. While many people are already taking steps to lower their bills, the campaign identifies immediate, cost-free actions that can have an impact while also highlighting bigger long-term actions to reduce our dependence on imported fossil fuels. This includes availing of a broad range of energy efficiency grants and supports through SEAI.