Parents and guardians of kids attending secondary and primary school could be in line to save up to half a grand on school transport for the upcoming school year.
According to the Department of Education, the Bus Eireann family portal for new applications for school transport for the upcoming school year will close on Friday, 28 April. Around 121,000 students and their families are set to benefit from the €500 savings.
However, to qualify for the scheme a child must be aged between four and 12 years, and be living 3.2 km or more away from their local school. Here is everything you need to know:
READ MORE: Bus Éireann urges families to confirm school transport requirements as deadline fast approaches
What is the School Transport Scheme?
As part of cost-of-living measures, it has been confirmed by the Department of Education that fees are to be scrapped for the upcoming school year - with thousands of families entitled to saving €500 ahead of the upcoming school year.
Minister Norma Foley introduced the scheme for the academic year last year but it is back again from September.
She said: "It has been good to see a strong level of applications to date for school transport in the next school year.
"This year the fees for school transport have been capped at €50 for a primary school ticket and €75 at post-primary, as a government response to the rising cost of living.
"As a result, the maximum amount any family will pay on school transport for the school year is €125 - a potential saving of up to €500."
Who is eligible for the School Transport Scheme?
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 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.
According to the Department, new applications are considered to be:
- Children attending junior infants in primary school for the first time in September 2023
- Children attending secondary school for the first time
- Children who have changed their home address or who are attending the new school during the upcoming academic year
How much can you save by applying for the transport scheme?
The School Transport Scheme 2023-2024 fee for a primary school child is €50 and for a secondary school child, it is €75. The maximum fee for a family is €125.
The most you can save from using the scheme is €500. You must pay for tickets or submit medical card details on the Bus Eireann website between 4 April and 9 June 2023.
How to apply
If your child is enrolling in primary or secondary school for the first time for the upcoming academic year, you can apply for school transport online on the Bus Eireann website.
Students from Ukraine who require school transport should not apply on the Bus Eireann family portal but should visit here for details on how to apply.
The Bus Eireann family portal will be open for payments for school transport for the 2023 / 2024 school year until 9 June.
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