Statement from Coach Tourism & Transport Council (CTTC) on Government fuel support measures 

The CTTC welcomes the Government’s decision to bring forward targeted fuel support measures for licensed passenger bus and coach operators under the Road Transporters Support Scheme.

The bus and coach sector has faced extraordinary fuel cost inflation over recent months, placing significant pressure on operators across the country who provide essential transport connectivity for communities, schools, tourism, workers and local economies, and it is vital that they are supported during this period.

The inclusion of licensed bus and coach operators in the Road Transporters Support Scheme is an important recognition of the crucial role our sector plays in Ireland’s transport network.

The graduated payment structure, which provides proportionately greater support to smaller operators, is particularly welcome given the pressures facing family-run and regional transport businesses.

Alongside supports for TFI Local Link services, and school transport, this package will help operators to withstand the current pressures.

These measures will also help ensure that operators can continue delivering sustainable, strategic transport connectivity across Ireland, helping to relieve congestion and drive transport emissions down.

We look forward to continuing to engage with Government to ensure that the scheme is implemented efficiently and that the bus and coach sector remains supported as fuel costs continue to fluctuate.

The CTTC has been lobbying members of Government over a number of months on the urgent need for support for the sector. We have also worked collaboratively with Government to ensure that the scale of the challenge facing operators was fully understood.

We want to acknowledge the Tánaiste, Simon Harris, the Minister for Transport, Darragh O’Brien, and Minister Seán Canney, who have engaged constructively with us and worked to devise a package that will benefit our members.