School Transport

School Transport Services for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine 2023/24 school year

Ukrainian children attending primary or post-primary schools may apply for school transport. The application process for school transport will vary, depending on the living arrangements of the Ukrainian children. Please see the relevant category below for information.

Children in host family homes/in pledged accommodation/with their family living in their own independent/private accommodation

New applications for school transport for the above children must be made by the parent/guardian directly.

A new application is:

  • If your child has been enrolled for the first time in this school
  • If your child has moved schools
  • If your child has moved accommodation

Please Note:

  • If you have made an application for your child for school transport previously, and their home or school address has not changed, you do not need to re-apply for school transport, the application will carry over to the 23/24 school year.
  • If a pupil has changed their home address or changed school then a new application must be submitted.

New applications for school transport can be made via an online form (in English, Ukrainian and Russian) which is available here: Application for pupils residing in host family homes/independent living/pledged accommodation

All new and existing applications for transport will be assessed by Bus Éireann

Bus Éireann will check availability of school transport services and whether spare capacity exists.

Where seats are available on existing services, the normal eligibility criteria will not apply and eligibility will be granted to the school that the child/children are enrolled in provided that this is the closest school that has capacity for the pupil at the time of enrolment.

As seats are assigned to pupils, Bus Éireann will issue tickets to families. Children will be expected to meet the service at the existing pick-up point. There will be no charge for the ticket.

 

In cases where there is no existing service or where there is no capacity on an existing service, a grant can be offered to the family as appropriate to support them with the cost of transport arrangements

Children staying in accommodation centres/modular builds (or similar)

New applications for school transport for the 2023/2024 school year for the above children must be made by the school principals.

A new application is:

  • If your child has been enrolled for the first time in this school
  • If your child has moved schools
  • If your child has moved accommodation centre/ modular build (or similar)

School principals in the Laois and Offaly region should complete the information required on the application form below and return it to their local REALT Coordinator using realt@loetb.ie. The information will be submitted by REALT to Bus Éireann in order to provide school transport services as required. School principals may apply for transport for children attending their school who are residing in accommodation centres (or similar).

Application Form: School Transport application for children from Ukraine residing in accommodation centres/modular builds (or similar) to be completed by school principal

Please note:

  • If a school principal has made an application for a child for school transport previously, and their home or school address has not changed, the school principal does not need to re-apply for school transport, the application will carry over to the 23/24 school year.

If your school is not in Laois or Offaly, you will find details of your local REALT here: REALT contact details

 

Points of contact in Department of Education’s School Transport Section

phone number: 057 9325467 (during office hours)
email address: transportapplications@education.gov.ie

 

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