Applications for Bus Eireann School Bus Tickets 2024/25:
Applications for Bus Eireann School Transport Tickets for new pupils starting Primary or Post Primary school in Aug/Sept 2024 opened in February 2024.
Only pupils starting school will need to apply.
The closing date for applications for new school bus tickets for the school year 2024/25 was the 26th of April 2024.
Full payment will need to be made before 7th June 2024.
Tickets will be issued from July 2024 onwards.
Usually, late applications will be accepted but will not be guaranteed a seat.
Ukranian Pupils – Pupils from Ukraine who require school transport should not apply on the Bus Éireann family portal but should visit gov.ie/ukraine for details on how to apply.
Who is Eligible for School Transport?
- Primary children are eligible for transport if they live not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school .
- Post Primary children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kms from their nearest education centre .
The School Transport Scheme gives priority to eligible pupils, but “concessionary” tickets are allocated to other students if there are seats available.
Where the number of applications for school transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann determines the allocation of tickets using a computerised random process. This year – because of the free tickets, it seems there have been a lot more applications and more pupils are being refused seats.
Cost of School Transport Fares
For the school year 2024/25 the charges are the same as last year :
- €50 each for primary school students
- €75 for post primary.
- capped maximum of €125 per family.
School bus fares were FREE in 2022/23.
Prior to 2022 the bus fares were as follows:
- For secondary school pupils, the charge was €350 per pupil . (Maximum per family of €500 )
- For primary school buses, the fare was €100 per pupil. (Maximum per family of €150 )
- There was an exemption for Medical Card holders.
You can apply online for your Bus Eireann school bus pass here.
Don’t forget to also apply for the Back to School Allowance
Contact numbers for local Bus Éireann School Transport Offices
For the summer months, Bus Éireann has introduced a new contact number for all school transport queries. You need to call 01 522 9991 from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Local Office Numbers to Call outside Summer Months
Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow ,Meath 01 8302222
Louth, Monaghan, Cavan 042 682 5900
Westmeath, Longford, Offaly Roscommon, Laois 0906 473277
Mayo 096 71816
Cork 021 4557137
Clare, Tipperary (North), Limerick 061 217484
Galway 091 537530
Sligo, Leitrim 071 9160440
Donegal 074 9131008
Waterford, Tipperary (South), Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford 051 873401
Kerry 066 7164750
From www.buseireann.ie website