Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien has announced details of the Road Transporters Support Scheme (RTSS) for hauliers, ‘own account’ road haulage operators and bus and coach operators.

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.

Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien commented: “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 of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney added: “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.”

He added: “The RTSS will support hauliers and transport operators to face these challenges and continue to play their vital role in our economy.”

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.

Eligibility for RTSS

To qualify for support under the RTSS, applicants must  on 1 March 2026, be:

1. A holder of a road haulage operator licence issued by the Department of Transport; or

2. 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

3. 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.

Payment

Number of Vehicles Owned Payment

Up to and including 5 vehicles per operator €1,350 per vehicle

For 6 to 20 per vehicle per operator €790 per vehicle

For 21 + vehicles €300 per vehice