Cllr. Charlie Farrelly (Independent) sent a message from the election campaign trail to alert constituents that school transport consideration time is here for first time school-goers and for students who may have changed address.
Closing Date for Applications is April 26th
“Parents and guardians are now being asked to familiarise themselves with the terms of the scheme and the eligibility rules that apply,” said Cllr. Farrelly and he urged the families of first time school-goers to act as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as the deadline for applications is April 26th.
“New applicants including pupils who will be attending junior infants in Primary School or first year in Post Primary School for the first time in 2024 will be considered along with pupils that may move home address or will be attending a new school in the 2024/25 school year,” he said.
Eligibility Criteria
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 have completed the application and payment process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children Not Eligible
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.
Demand Over Supply
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 2024/25 school year and this means that transport will be provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who apply and pay on time.
Cllr. Farrelly also pointed out that full details on eligibility can be found by clicking on: http://www.gov.ie/en/service/school-transport/
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