Under the current terms of the School Transport Schemes, 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, 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 complete the application process on time are accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
The closing date for applications for the 2026/27 school year was Friday 08 May 2026. Bus Éireann has advised that at that date they had received two eligible applications from this area for the post primary scheme and no applications for the primary scheme. As there are not 10 eligible children in the area, it currently does not warrant the establishment of a new service under the terms of the scheme.
The purpose of the Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme is to give students who are disadvantaged because of their remoteness from schools an opportunity to attend school on the same basis as students not so disadvantaged.
The terms of this scheme are set out in Circular 16/2016 which is published on the Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/services/remote-area-boarding-grant/.
Under the terms of the scheme, a second-level school is a school which is recognised by the Department for the purpose of providing the prescribed certificate courses, which enters its students for the State examinations and is subject to inspection by the Department.
As per the circular above, the student “must be resident 4.8 km or more from a second-level school where suitable free second-level education is available and more than 3.2 km from a pick-up point on a transport service to such a school; and must be unable to obtain a place in a suitable second-level school within 25 km of his/her normal place of residence & should provide written confirmation of same”.
Students resident on offshore islands that do not have a school providing suitable free second level education may also qualify for assistance under the scheme.
For students requiring an Irish medium education the outlined criteria will be applied to the nearest second level school providing instruction through Irish.
The curriculum choices provided by a school (including the provision or otherwise of transition year) within 25 km of the applicant’s normal place of residence will not be a factor in the determination of eligibility for the award of a grant.
The maximum grant payable under the scheme may not exceed €4,947 per student per annum. The grant is payable after each school term to the school or parent/guardian, whichever is appropriate, subject to verification by the school that the student has been in full-time attendance for the period concerned and a statement of the annual maintenance charge for the boarding or lodging fees, whichever is applicable, is provided.
