Parents urged to apply in time for Bus Éireann School Transport Scheme
13-03-2025
Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has strongly encouraged parents of primary and post-primary school children to submit a timely application for the Bus Éireann School Transport Scheme for the 2025–26 school year.
Deputy Nolan reminded parents and guardians that the best chance of ensuring a seat for their child, or children is to make an application well in advance of the closing date of Friday, 25th April 2025.
Information provided to the Independent TD by the Department of Education has confirmed that the application process is being directed in particular at parents of students who have never applied for school transport or those starting junior infants or first year for the first time in the 2025/26 school year.
Students changing home address or moving school in the 2025/26 school year also must make an application by April.
The payment deadline for all application is Thursday, 6th June 2025:
“I cannot encourage parents strongly enough to get an application in well in advance of the deadline,“ said Deputy Nolan.
“We know that the school transport system is allegedly undergoing a rapid expansion, but despite this we continue to see, on an annual basis, a significant number of children being left behind by a lack of services.”
“I do not want to see any parent or child in Offaly have to undergo that kind of stress at any point during this upcoming academic year.”
“I am in contact with the department around introducing greater flexibility on the eligibility criteria because that really is an issue that causes genuine frustration for many parents.
“At present children in primary must live at least 3.2 km from their nearest national school, as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, considering the school’s ethos and language. For post-primary the child must live at least 4.8 km from their nearest post-primary school or education centre,” concluded Deputy Nolan.
ENDS
Bus Éireann runs the School Transport Scheme for the Department of Education. They have a dedicated customer care call centre to help families with school transport questions.
If you have any questions, you can call the centre at LoCall 0818 919 910. The phone lines are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday to Friday.