The school transport scheme is operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth. The purpose of the scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
Where pupils are eligible for transport and complete the application process on time, they will be accommodated on a service where one is available. Pupils who apply but do not meet the eligibility criteria are known as concessionary applicants. Concessionary pupils who complete the application process on time will be accommodated on spare seats services once eligible pupils have been accommodated.
Under the terms of the scheme, the availability of concessionary transport varies from year to year based on the capacity on the buses running on all the various routes and the number of eligible children accommodated on each route. It cannot be guaranteed for the duration of a pupil’s education cycle. Where the number of applications for transport on a concessionary basis exceeds the number of seats available, Bus Éireann will determine the allocation of the tickets using an agreed selection process.
Bus Éireann endeavours wherever possible to ensure all vehicles are full to capacity. Services in all locations are considered when planning mainstream services for the upcoming school year. Bus Éireann organises for vehicles to be full to capacity with tickets based on applications received and based on the seating capacity of the vehicle. It is recognised that all pupils issued with tickets will not travel every morning and every evening. In addition, certain after school activities may also result in pupils not travelling on certain days so it may appear that there are spare seats on those days.
The information requested by the Deputy for the 2023-2024, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 school years is not readily available and is currently being collated by Bus Éireann. It will be fowarded directly to the Deputy when it is available.
