Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon announced a Road Transporters Support Scheme for hauliers, and bus and coach operators and a Fuel Support Scheme for farmers, fishers and agricultural contractors.
The scheme provides financial support to help with the rising costs of fuel due to 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," O'Brien said.
"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," he continued.
The scheme will be open to licensed haulage operators and licensed road passenger transport operators.
“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," Heydon said.
“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," he continued.
The scheme will also provide support for commercial and school transport operators. Support for TFI Local Link Services will be available through the NTA and support for school transport operators will be available through the Department of Education and Youth.
The construction sector will be included in the Fuel Support Scheme. Read more on Nova here.
The fuel support scheme will cover the months of March to the end of July. It's purpose is to support those who are most impacted by the arising costs. Eligibility for the scheme will be evaluated on the use of Market Gas Oil for production of agricultural products on farm last year. 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."
Applicants will be asked to show their usage from 2025 based on receipted expenditure. The applicant must supply a self declaration of their usage by using statements and receipts.
The scheme will provide a once of payment for five months rather than a monthly payment.
Payments will be giving out based on the number of vehicles on a license which means smaller business will achieve greater financial support. Up to and including 5 vehicles per operator will receive €1,350 per vehicle. For vehicles 6 to 20 per operator will receive €790 per vehicle and for vehicles 21+ will receive €300 per vehicle.
“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," Minister of State at the Department of Transport with responsibility for International and Road Transport, Seán Canney said.
“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," he continued.
