Parents urged to make payments for school transport ahead of deadline

Parents are being urged to make payments for the School Transport Scheme ahead of next week's fast-approaching deadline.

April 28 was the deadline for new applications for the 2023/2024 school year - families can still apply for their children, but the applications will be considered late. The closing date for Bus Éireann school transport payments is Friday, June 9.

Cork East TD and Fianna Fáil Transport Spokesperson, James O’Connor, is now urging all parents who have applied for school transport for their children for the coming academic year to ensure they’ve made their payment through the portal on Bus Éireann’s website ahead of next Friday's deadline.

“These school transport spaces are in high demand so it is important that families don’t miss out,” Deputy O’Connor said.

For this school year (20222023) almost 150,000 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are being transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. There are also about 5,200 Ukrainian children availing of the School Transport Scheme.

“Bus Éireann have advised my party colleague Minister for Education Norma Foley that the number of applications made for the school transport scheme within Cork county for the 2022/23 school year was more than 23,400. It included almost 22,000 applications for mainstream schools, some 800 SEN applications and 600 Ukrainian applications.

“The number of children availing of school transport is likely to increase for the coming academic year so it’s important people are aware of the deadline date,” Deputy O’Connor added.

Fees have been reintroduced for the coming school term but at reduced rates. A primary school child will be charged at €50 for the academic school year, while a post-primary child will be charged €75.

Minister Foley, in response to a parliamentary question from party colleague Deputy O’Connor, said Bus Éireann will review applications and plan routes for the 2023/2024 school year following the June 9 deadline.

"It's only after this time that Bus Éireann will know how many applications have been received and paid for and the eligibility of students can be confirmed. Once the analysis of applications is complete, services will be planned for the upcoming school year,” Minister Foley said.

The Minister added that there will be ‘ no removal or downsizing of buses/routes for the 2023/2024 school year’.