School Transport

**NEW** From Tuesday 19th March the contact numbers for Bus Eireann School Transport will change to a Locall number covering all Bus Eireann School Transport regions. The number to contact Bus Eireann School Transport is 0818 919 910.

Applications for School Year 2024/2025 

The Bus Éireann School Transport Family Portal is now open for new applications for school transport services for the 2024/25 school year. New applications are considered as:

• Pupils who will be attending junior infants in primary school or first year in post-primary school for the first time in 2024.

• Pupils that may move home address or will be attending a new school in the 2024/25 school year.

The closing date for new applications is Friday 26 April 2024.

Any new applications made after the closing date are considered late applications. A late application may mean that a ticket is not available.

Payments for School Year 2024/2025 

This year, families can apply and pay /enter medical card details in one step from the date the portal opens.   This means new and existing applicants can pay/enter medical card details from now until 7 June 2024.   The Bus Éireann family portal is now open to accept payments/medical card details until 7 June 2024.

Payments made after the deadline date will be deemed late.  A late payment may mean that a ticket is not available. 

The portal will close from 8 June 2024 for a 3-week period to allow Bus Éireann time to plan for the new school year. 

Payments/medical card details must be submitted for:

• new applicants and;

• pupils who have previously applied/availed of school transport and require a seat on a service for the 24/25 school year.

Children (who are eligible for school transport) and who possess valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge however, their medical card details must be submitted to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann are now accepting medical card details until 7 June 2024. Medical card details received after 7 of June deadline are considered late. 

Customers are also advised that no further school transport applications for the current School Year 2023/24 can be made after February 19th 2024. Only applications for the new school year will be accepted. 

School Transport Scheme Review

A review of the School Transport Scheme has been completed by the Department of Education.  This review was conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness, and sustainability and to ensure it services students and their families adequately. The School Transport Scheme 2030 report has now been published, which marks the largest review of the School Transport Scheme since it was established in 1967. The Government is committed to working to achieve the report’s recommendation of expanding access to the scheme so that an additional 100,000 pupils can be carried by 2030.  Throughout the review, the value of the School Transport Scheme to both families and in supporting wider Government policies has been very apparent.  In summary, school transport not only plays an important part in supporting children's access to education, but it also aligns to wider Government objectives. 

Overall, the recommended changes to the future operation of the Scheme concern:

• expansion of the current eligibility criteria,

• addressing current operational challenges

• charges and grants and

• over time, moving towards better integration with public transport to ensure optimum value for money to the Exchequer.

A phased implementation of the review’s recommendations will commence in September 2024. This will include a shared effort between my Department and the Department of Transport to pilot and introduce greater integration of the roll out of transport networks with school transport routes, with a view to expanding provision of transport and reducing the reliance over time on individual car trips for school journeys. It is intended subject to resources to commence implementing the revised eligibility criteria in the 2025/2026 school year. Please visit www.gov.ie/education for more information.

School Transport Customer Care