Applications for the €120m Road Transporters Support Scheme Open – O’Shea

Deputy John Paul O’Shea, TD for Cork North West has welcomed the opening of applications for the new €120 million Road Transporters Support Scheme (RTSS), and is encouraging all eligible operators across Cork and the wider region to apply without delay.

The Scheme, announced by the Department of Transport, is aimed at supporting the haulage and passenger transport sector and will remain open for applications until 12 noon on Friday 12^th June 2026.

Welcoming the opening of the application portal, Deputy O’Shea said “I very much welcome the opening of applications for the Road Transporters Support Scheme, which will provide significant and much-needed assistance to transport operators who have faced considerable challenges in recent times. Hauliers, coach operators and transport providers play a critical role in supporting businesses, communities and regional connectivity right across Cork and rural Ireland. This funding recognises the importance of the sector and the pressures many operators are currently under.

“I would strongly encourage all eligible applicants to review the criteria and submit their applications as early as possible to ensure they can benefit from the supports available under the scheme.”

Deputy O’Shea said the €120 million fund demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting the transport and logistics sector at a critical time.

“The transport sector is essential to the Irish economy and to everyday life in rural communities. Ensuring operators are supported will help maintain services, protect jobs and strengthen supply chains across the country.”

Applications for the Scheme opened today and will close at 12 noon on Friday 12th June 2026. Full eligibility details are below, terms and conditions, and application information are available through the Department of Transport website – Department of Transport

Eligibility criteria

You must meet one of the following conditions, as of 01 March 2026, to apply for support:

You are required to be registered for tax in the State, have valid tax clearance, and be able to demonstrate that your business is an ongoing concern.

You will be asked to make several declarations and provide supporting documents as part of the application process.

You may only make one application for the Scheme. Separate applications from the same person or business, or separate applications in respect of the same vehicles, may result in all such applications being rejected.

The Department will verify the information you have provided in your application with data held by the Department within the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF), and with other government departments and agencies as part of the administration of the Scheme.

Vehicle eligibility criteria

Each vehicle for which you make a claim must meet all of the following conditions as of 01 March 2026:

• The vehicle must be registered on the Department of Transport’s National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database;

• The vehicle must be properly taxed, including the payment of any arrears;

• The vehicle must have a valid Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Testing (CVRT) certificate if it is more than 12-months old;

• The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes;

• The vehicle is used by you/your company in the course of your normal business activity.

Please note that the Department will verify this information against our records to determine eligibility. You may not receive payment or your payment may be delayed if any vehicles for which you make a claim do not meet these criteria.

Licenced hauliers

If you hold a road haulage operator licence issued by the Department of Transport, please ensure you have your identification number ready when completing the application form. This will allow you to submit less information during the application process.

Support will not be provided for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight less than 3.5 tonnes even if you are required to list it on your road haulage operator licence. The Department will automatically exclude these vehicles as part of the application process; you do not need to list them on the application form.

Support will not be provided for vehicles that have not been in use for the duration of the Scheme, you will need to list the registration number(s) of any such vehicles in your fleet. Examples include but are not limited to vehicles that are not used for the carriage of goods by road and vehicles that are off the road for repairs.

Licenced passenger operators

Support for operators of TFI Local Link services will be available through the National Transport Authority (NTA), and support for school transport services will be facilitated by the Department of Education and Youth (DEY).

These support mechanisms will be administered through contractual arrangements. You do not need to make an application for those vehicles in your fleet through the RTSS.

If you hold a road passenger operator’s licence issued by the Department of Transport and have additional vehicles in your fleet that you do not use to provide TFI Local Link or school transport services, you may be eligible for support by way of the RTSS. You should apply for RTSS for those vehicles through the online application process.

Please ensure you have your operator licence identification number ready when completing the application form. This will allow you to submit less information during the application process.

Please note that you will need to declare that the vehicles being claimed for are eligible to receive support under the RTSS as part of the application process. You will need to provide the registration numbers for vehicles listed on your passenger operator licence that are not eligible to receive support under the RTSS. This information will be verified against our records, and any such vehicles will be excluded from the Scheme.

Applications for support will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Own account sector

If you/your company delivers your own goods to your customers using your own vehicles and drivers employed by you, you are referred to as the own account sector. You do not need to hold a road haulage operator licence as you do not provide haulage services to others.

You can make a claim once you/your business is registered for tax in the State, have valid tax clearance, and can demonstrate that your business is an ongoing concern.

You can only make a claim for vehicles in your fleet that meet the vehicle eligibility criteria. You will be required to provide the registration number of each vehicle for which you seek support.

Leased vehicles

You may lease, rather than own, some vehicles in your fleet. You can claim support for these vehicles once they meet the vehicle eligibility criteria outlined above. You must provide a copy of the lease agreement, that clearly identifies the registration number of each vehicle for which you seek support, as part of the application process.

Exclusions

Support will not be provided for the following categories of vehicles:

• Battery electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and vehicles fuelled using CNG, methane, bio-methane, hydrogen or other non-fossil fuel.

• Vehicles fuelled using marked gas oil (green diesel) .

• Quarry vehicles, plant and machinery used on construction sites and non-mobile machinery. Off-road vehicles.

• Vehicles operated under contract with the National Transport Authority to provide State-subvented Public Service Obligation Services.

• Vehicles operated under contract with the Department of Education and Youth to provide school transport services.

• Vehicles owned or hired without a driver by the public sector (including the armed services, civil defence, national ambulance service, fire services and forces responsible for maintaining public order).

• Vehicles owned by state entities (Government departments, local authorities, agencies whether commercial or non-commercial, and semi-states).

• Vehicles, including vehicles used in the non-commercial transport of humanitarian aid, used in emergencies or rescue operations.

• Specialised breakdown vehicles operating within a 100 km radius of their base.

• Refuse collection vehicles.

• Vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, and new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service.

• Vehicles or combinations of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes used for a non-commercial purpose.

• Motorhomes and campervans regardless of use (commercial or non-commercial).

Application checklist

Please ensure you have taken all of the following steps, and have the information needed to complete your application ready before you start your application.

If you hold a road haulage operator licence or passenger operator licence issued by the Department of Transport, please ensure you have your identification number ready when completing the application form. This will allow you to submit less information during the application process.

Ensure all vehicles for which you intend to make a claim are properly taxed including payment of any arrears. All vehicles must remain properly taxed for the duration of the Scheme.

Ensure all vehicles for which you intend to make a claim have a valid CVRT certificate if required.

Please ensure you have the following financial information to hand when completing your application:

1. a) Tax registration number

2. b) Tax type (Corporation Tax, VAT, self-assessment Income Tax)

3. c) Tax clearance access number

4. d) BIC

5. e) IBAN

6. f) Bank header statement dated within the last six months that clearly identifies the account name and number

7. g) Email address for correspondence

8. h) Name, address and position in the company of the person making the application

Please note that you will be required to declare that you are entitled to receive support under the scheme and meet all of the eligibility criteria.

Only one application per operator will be accepted. All your eligible vehicles must be claimed through the same application.

You will also need to grant the Department of Transport permission to process your data, including any personal data required, for the purpose of validating your entitlement to receive support under the scheme, compliance with the eligibility criteria, and making payments due under the scheme.