Becoming a School Transport Provider

School Transport Scheme

The School Transport scheme supports transport to and from school for children throughout the country who reside remote from their nearest school. Bus Éireann operates the Scheme on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills with a fleet of over 4,500 vehicles. There are over 40 million passenger journeys made on the School Transport Scheme each year. Some 90% of these vehicles are owned by independent contractors.

How to apply?

To be eligible to quote for school transport contracts, administered by Bus Eireann on behalf of the Department of Education & Skills all operators must be registered on the Etenders website (https://www.etenders.gov.ie/) and have submitted and passed the Pre Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ).

The PQQ is now open and located in the tender BE/SV/08/01/2015 - Provision of School Transport Services - Qualification Panels 2016

Who can apply?

Operators of large, medium and minibuses who may be interested in undertaking, on a contractual basis, the operation of a Transport Service(s) under the Primary and Post Primary School Transport Schemes to School Centre(s) and Operators of large, medium, minibuses and taxis who may be interested in undertaking, on a contractual basis, the operation of a Transport Service(s) under the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs to Primary and Post Primary School(s) throughout the Republic of Ireland.