Frequently Asked Questions

click to login to School Transport Family Portal

The full terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme and the Post Primary School Transport Scheme are available on the Department of Education website.

Who is Eligible for School Transport?
How do I know if my child is eligible?
What is Concessionary transport?
How do I know if my application has been received?
How do I know that my payment was made?
How long does it take for my confirmation of payment email to arrive?
Can ineligible children still get school transport?
What is a ‘scheduled service’?
Can I have a home pick up?
Is School Transport provided during the period of a Status Red Weather Warning?
What if my nearest school is full?
All you need to know about applying & paying for School Transport
When are ticket issued?
Can I use my receipt for travel until I receive a ticket?
Can I use the ticket to travel home after games or homework club etc?
My child no longer requires School Transport. What should I do?
Personal circumstances

Who is Eligible for School Transport?

Primary school children who live more than 3.2 kms from their nearest national school as determined by the Department of Education / Bus Éireann.

Post-Primary school children who live more than than 4.8 kms from their nearest education centre as determined by the Department of Education / Bus Éireann.

Regard to language and religious ethos apply on both schemes.

School children with special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability are eligible for transport having regard to available resources.

How do I know if my child is eligible?

Apply for first-time children online with Bus Éireann on or before the last Friday in April.

Bus Éireann determines eligibility by checking the distance from the nearest school to the child’s home.

You will receive a preliminary eligibility notice by selecting your home on the online map when applying online. School Transport is subject to the availability of a suitable service in your area. If your child is eligible for school transport and there is a suitable service available in your area you will receive an email from Bus Éireann in late June / early July. If there is no transport service available, and you have applied by the closing date of the last Friday in April you may entitled to receive a Remote Area Grant. Details of this grant are available on the Department of Education website.

What is Concessionary transport?

Children who are not eligible for school transport but who have applied for transport on a concessionary basis may be accommodated if there is a suitable service available, provided there is spare capacity on the service. Concessionary transport is not available on public scheduled services. Confirmation of the availability of a concessionary seat will not be known until early August

How do I know my application has been received?

When you log in to your account, you will see that the status beside your childs name will say "Application has been Submitted".

How do I know that my payment was made?

At the end of your online transaction, you will receive a notification that says “Payment successful” and will provide you with your order reference

How long does it take for my confirmation of payment email to arrive?

Your confirmation of payment email should arrive within a minute of a successful payment and will contain your payment reference.

Can ineligible children still get school transport?

Yes. Transport may be available on a concessionary basis. Apply online.

What is a ‘scheduled service’?

A scheduled service is a public bus or rail service which is open to the general public to use, in contrast to a school bus service which only carries schoolchildren.

Can I have a home pick up?

Home pick-ups are not a general feature of the Primary or Post Primary Schemes. Where practicable, and subject to considerations of cost and logistics, routes are planned to avoid an eligible Post Primary child having to travel more than 3.2 kilometres to or from a pick up/set down, or more than 2.4 kilometres to or from a pick up/set down point in the case of a Primary child. Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that children are brought safely to and collected safely from Bus Éireann designated pick up and set down points.

Is School Transport provided during the period of a Status Red Weather Warning?

All services provided by Bus Éireann under the Department of Education School Transport Schemes will be cancelled in the affected area if a Status Red warning is announced for all or part of a given day. For further details please refer to the Bus Éireann website.

Can I obtain a refund if the service doesn’t operate due to bad weather conditions?

All Bus Éireann services may be subject to alteration or cancellation without notice for reasons beyond the control of Bus Éireann. On occasions where snow, fog, or other adverse weather conditions prevail, or the state of the roads is unusually difficult or if for any reason whatsoever roads or sections of roads are closed to traffic, it may be necessary to vary the times of Bus Éireann services or to suspend their operation without notice. Bus Éireann shall not be liable for any loss, damage, delay or expense arising as a result of such circumstances outside the control of Bus Éireann.

What if my nearest school is full?

Eligibility is determined based on the distance that you live from your next nearest school with regard to ethos and language. If the Department is satisfied that your nearest school is full Parents must provide:

  • Evidence that an application for enrolment was made within the deadline dates specified by the school.
  • A letter from the school authorities confirming that the school was full.
  • A copy of the decision reached following an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act, 1998. The Act provides for an appeal by a parent to the Secretary General of the Department where a Board of Management of a school has refused to enrol a child.

All you need to know about applying & paying for School Transport

You can apply online on the Bus Éireann School Transport webpage.

Applications must be received online by the last Friday in April each year

Only new pupils need to apply, or those who change address/school. Your child continues in the scheme if there is no change in his/her circumstances.

When are tickets issued?

Tickets for eligible children who have been allocated a place are generally posted shortly before schools resume.

Can I use my receipt for travel until I receive a ticket?

No. One ticket is issued per seat on the school bus. A valid ticket must be presented upon request by the driver at any time.

Can I use the ticket to travel home after games or homework club etc?

No. Tickets issued under the School Transport Scheme for travel on scheduled services can be used for travel up to 5pm only each school day.

My child no longer requires School Transport. What should I do?

If you child is travelling on School Transport and during the academic year, your circumstances change, then please cancel your school transport application online. If you have received your ticket, please contact your local School Transport Office quoting your family ID and make arrangements to return your school transport ticket.

Important Notice 
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 and can be reported to us at customercare@buseireann.ie

Personal circumstances

What if I am a working parent and the transport offered is not suitable?
It is not possible or reasonable Bus Eireann to take cognisance of individual parent’s circumstances, or other commitments. In some cases where there is no additional cost to the scheme it may be possible to consider individual request. You should contact your local School Transport Office for advice.

What if I have a medical condition?
While Bus Eireann understands the impact that a Parent’s medical condition may have on facilitating a child’s attendance to school, the Scheme dictates that consideration can only be given to a medical condition held by the child and not the Parent.

What if I have shared custody of my child?
Bus Eireann is required to provide transport for pupils in accordance with the terms of the Scheme as determined by the Department of Education. Transport can only be assessed from the residence of the legal guardian of the pupil. Where custody is shared equally throughout the week, parents should determine which address the application is made from.

What if my child gets expelled from School?
You may cancel your School Transport application at any time through our online system.