School Transport Applications

Primary schools

The primary school transport scheme supports the transport to and from school of children who live more than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school.

School Transport Applications – 2026/2027

The School Transport Scheme, operated by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Youth, will open on Friday 27 March for applications and payments. The closing date for payments is Friday, 8 May 2026.

Ukraine/IPAS applications

In order to fully integrate all pupils using mainstream school transport, all pupils who have arrived in Ireland from Ukraine and all pupils residing in IPAS/EROC centres will be required to apply for mainstream school transport by the deadline date of 8 May also. This will mean that all families, living in accommodation centres, IPAS centres, modular homes, with host families, and living independently, should now apply on the Bus Éireann family portal. Failure to apply and pay or enter medical card details will mean that a ticket will not be offered.

Ticket Prices for 2026/2027

A 2024 review of the School Transport Scheme found that having a fee helps use resources more effectively and prevents bus seats from going unused, helping to protect and sustain the scheme for all families who needs it. The review recommended that families using the mainstream scheme should contribute a fee to help protect and sustain the service for all who depend on it. The Government has announced that school transport ticket prices for 2026/27 school year are as follows:

This is equivalent to:

No family will pay more than €1.32c per day in total, regardless of how many children use the service. A facility to pay in instalments is now available to families.

School transport will continue to be free for:

Further Information

Further information is available at:

Bus Éireann | School Transport Services