All applicants – Payment or medical card details – closing date 6 June 2025
The Bus Éireann family portal is now open to accept payments or enter medical card details until Friday, 6 June 2025. Payments or medical cards entered after the deadline date will be deemed late. A late payment or entering medical card details may mean that a ticket is not available.
The portal will close from 7 June 2025 for a 3-week period to allow Bus Éireann time to plan for the new school year.
Payments or 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 25/26 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 by the closing date.
Ticket Charges
For the 2025/26 school year charges of €50 per student at primary level and €75 per student at post-primary level will apply, with a cap per family of €125. Eligible children with a full medical card and children who are eligible for SEN transport services remain exempt from the annual ticket charge.
Customer Call Centre
Bus Éireann has put in place a dedicated customer care call centre to assist families specifically with School Transport queries during the busy summer period. Families that have queries can contact the call centre on: LoCall 0818 919 910. Operating hours are 09.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday.
Families can also contact Bus Éireann their website: www.buseireann.ie/schooltransport by submitting a query via: https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=769,
Updates on the application process can be found on Gov.ie/schooltransport and on buseireann.ie/schooltransport
Eligibility
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language and at post-primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post-primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
- Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation and where capacity exists.
- Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who complete the application and payment process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
- Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.
- In addition, temporary alleviation measures will continue for the 2025/2026 school year, this means that transport will be provided, where such services are in operation and where capacity exists, for pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school/post primary centre and who apply and pay on time.
Pupils from Ukraine
Pupils from Ukraine who are currently on school transport do not need to re-apply for the 2025/2026 school year unless they have changed address or school.
New applications – living independently or with host families
All families who are living independently or with host families who wish to apply for mainstream school transport for their child for the 2025/26 school year, and who are not currently on school transport, are asked to apply and pay or enter their medical card details via the Bus Éireann family portal, which can be found here.
This includes families who have moved address since their last application and/or pupils who are changing schools for the 2025/26 school year.
New applications – living in accommodation centre
New applications for school transport for the 2025/26 school year for pupils living in accommodation centres must be made by the school principals. School principals should forward the information required to their local REALT.
A new application is:
- a pupil who is enrolling for the first time in school;
- has moved schools or;
- has moved to a new accommodation centre.
The information provided by you will be submitted by members of the REALT to Bus Éireann who will arrange for school transport to be provided where it is possible to do so.
School Transport Section
School Transport Section
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Department of Education and Youth
Department of Education and Youth
Marlborough Street, Dublin, D01 RC96.
Marlborough Street, Dublin, D01 RC96.
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Dear Principal,
Please see the latest information below in relation to the School Transport Scheme.
Information for families on the School Transport Application Process for the 2025/26 School Year
All applicants – Payments or medical card details – closing date is 6 June 2025
The Bus Éireann family portal is now open to accept payments or enter medical card details until Friday 6 June 2025. Any payments made or any medical card details entered after the deadline will be deemed to be late. Tickets may not be available if payment is made or medical card details are entered late.
The portal will be closed for a period of three weeks from 7 June 2025 to allow Bus Éireann time to plan for the new school year.
Payments or medical card details must be submitted for:
• new applicants; and
• pupils who have previously applied for school transport/who have used previous school transport and who require a seat on service for the 25/26 school year.
Children (who are eligible for school transport) who have a valid medical card (the General Medical Services Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge. However, their medical card details must be submitted to Bus Éireann by the closing date.
Students from Ukraine
No students from Ukraine who are currently transported to school need to reapply for the 2025/2026 school year unless they have changed their address or school.
New applications – living independently or with host families
All families living independently or with host families who wish to apply for mainstream school transport for their child for the 2025/26 school year, and who are not currently on school transport, are asked to apply and make a payment or enter their medical card details through the Bus Éireann family portal, available here.
These include families who have changed address since they made their previous application and/or pupils who will be changing schools for the 2025/26 school year.
New applications – living in an accommodation centre
New school transport applications for the 2025/26 school year in respect of pupils living in accommodation centres must be made by school principals. School principals should forward the necessary information to their nearest regional education and language team.
A new application is:
- an application for a pupil enrolling in a school for the first time;
- an application for a pupil who has changed schools; or
- Application for a student who has moved to a new accommodation centre.
Members of the regional education and language team will submit the information you have provided to Bus Éireann. Bus Éireann will then arrange for the provision of school transport, where possible.
Ticket Charges
For the 2025/26 school year, a charge of €50 per pupil at primary level and €75 per pupil at post-primary level will apply, with a maximum charge of €125 per household. Eligible children with a full medical card and children eligible for transport services for children with special educational needs are still exempt from the annual ticket charge.
Customer Call Centre
Bus Éireann has set up a dedicated customer care call centre to specifically assist families with School Transport issues during the busy summer period. Families with queries can contact the call centre as follows: LoCall 0818 919 910. The line is open from 09.00 to 17.00, Monday to Friday.
Families can also contact Bus Éireann through its website at www.buseireann.ie/schooltransport or by submitting an enquiry via https://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=769 .
Up-to-date information on the application process can be found at gov.ie/schooltransport and buseireann.ie/schooltransport.
Eligibility
Children will be eligible for transport at primary level if they live within a distance of not less than 3.2 kilometres from the nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, with regard to ethos and language, and attend that school.
Children will be eligible for transport at post-primary level if they live within a distance of not less than 4.8 kilometres from their nearest post-primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language, and are attending such post-primary/education centre.
An Rannóg Iompair Scoile
School Transport Section
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An Roinn Oideachais agus Óige
Department of Education and Youth
Sráid Maoilbhríde, Baile Átha Cliath, D01 RC96.
Marlborough Street, Dublin, D01 RC96.
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