School Transport
Update Friday, 23 September
Bus Éireann would like to acknowledge the unprecedented demand for the school transport scheme this year. To date, Bus Éireann school transport offices across Ireland have issued over 124,000 tickets for mainstream school transport, which is an increase of over 20% compared to the same period last year.
Bus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of the Department of Education. We have, nationally, to date secured over 295 additional school transport vehicles and 162 services have had larger capacity vehicles added to the service, or the route extended.
95% of those applicants have now received tickets and work continues on a smaller proportion of those remaining, who meet the qualifying criteria of the scheme this year, which may give rise to additional capacity for concessionary students in certain areas.
For the 2022/23 school year, the normal eligibility criteria for the school transport scheme still apply. Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school. At post-primary level students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre are deemed eligible. Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary applicants, and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat on when all eligible children have been catered for.
For safety reasons, we would advise only students with a valid ticket for school transport will be permitted to travel on school transport services.
Important Notice on Refunds
Bus Éireann will never email you asking for bank details.
Refunds will be made directly to the card used to make the initial payment. We do not require any further detail from you and refunds will issue around the start of the school year.
We are aware of a small number of fraudulent emails circulating. Any emails purporting to be from Bus Éireann requesting such details should not be opened.
We’d like to remind everyone that:
- People who had already made a payment or who had input their medical card details prior to the Government announcement on fees do not need to take any further action. For those who made payments a refund will be issued around the start of the school year
- Everyone who had applied before 29 April 2022 – that is those applying for school transport for the first time, changing from primary to post-primary and those who may be changing school - and who had not submitted a payment or medical card number are required to complete the request ticket process, before the closing date of Friday 29 July
- Those who had availed of school transport last year and in previous years and who would usually pay at this time of year are required to complete the ticket request process by Friday 29 July, as set out in the email sent directly to them
- Any new applications being received now will be deemed late
- All applications are being processed in line with normal eligibility criteria and as usual, registering for a ticket does not guarantee a place will be available
School Transport Fees waived for 2022/23
The Government has announced initiatives to assist families with children returning to school in September, including removing fees from school transport for the coming academic year.
The Department of Education announcement and answers to frequently asked questions can be found here.
Applications
Applications for the school year 2022/23 must have been made by Friday 29 April 2022. All applications received after that date are deemed late, and may not be guaranteed a seat or a service.
Applications for pupils with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability should be made through The National Council for Special Education.
New contact number for queries about School Transport
From 24 June, Bus Éireann is introducing a new contact number for all of your School Transport queries. Please contact 01 5229991 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
This number will operate for the summer months only. Should you wish to contact your local Bus Éireann School Transport office by email, the contact details are as follows:
| County of School | School Transport Office | Email address |
|---|---|---|
| Laois, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Westmeath |
Bus Éireann Athlone School Transport Office | schools.athlone@buseireann.ie |
| Mayo | Bus Éireann Ballina School Transport Office | schools.ballina@buseireann.ie |
| Cork | Bus Éireann Cork School Transport Office | schools.cork@buseireann.ie |
| Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow | Bus Éireann Dublin School Transport Office | schools.dublin@buseireann.ie |
| Cavan, Louth, Monaghan | Bus Éireann Dundalk School Transport Office | schools.dundalk@buseireann.ie |
| Galway | Bus Éireann Galway School Transport Office | schools.galway@buseireann.ie |
| Clare, Limerick, Tipperary (North) | Bus Éireann Limerick School Transport Office | schools.limerick@buseireann.ie |
| Leitrim, Sligo | Bus Éireann Sligo School Transport Office | schools.sligo@buseireann.ie |
| Donegal | Bus Éireann Stranorlar School Transport | schools.stranorlar@buseireann.ie |
| Kerry | Bus Éireann Tralee School Transport Office | schools.tralee@buseireann.ie |
| Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary (South), Waterford, Wexford |
Bus Éireann Waterford School Transport Office | schools.waterford@buseireann.ie |
The School Transport Scheme supports transport to and from school for children who reside remote from their nearest school. The scheme is operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education.