School Transport Services for children arriving to Ireland from Ukraine

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
• Ukrainian families living in their own individual/independent/private accommodation
• Children staying in accommodation centres or similar

 

*** NOTE: the Department of Education has advised that all Ukrainian children, even if they were approved for school transport in 2021/2022, will need to apply again for the new school year i.e. 2022/2023.

Children in Host Family Homes

An application for school transport can be made via an online form (in English, Ukrainian and Russian) which is available here: Application for school transport parent/guardian/host family

 

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.

If seats are available on an existing service/route, these seats will be offered to the child/children. Where such seats are available the host family will be contacted and advised that a ticket will be issued. While waiting for the ticket to be issued the child/children will be permitted to travel on the service and the driver and inspector will be aware of this in all such cases where these arrangements are being provided.

Children will be expected to meet the service at the existing pick-up point.

There will be no charge for the ticket and the child will be guaranteed a ticket for the duration of their education while living with their host family in Ireland.

If the children move to live with another family/to another form of accommodation a new application for transport will be required.

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 host family as appropriate to support them with the cost of transport arrangements where the host family is providing for such transport arrangements.

 

OR 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 Ukrainian family as appropriate to support them with the cost of transport arrangements where the Ukrainian family is providing for such transport arrangements.

 

Ukrainian families living in their own individual/independent/private accommodation

An application for school transport can be made by the parent/guardian via an online form (in English, Ukrainian and Russian) which is available here: Application for school transport parent/guardian/host family.

Bus Éireann will check availability of school transport services and whether spare capacity exists on the required route.

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.

If seats are available on an existing service/route, these seats will be offered to the child/children. Where such seats are available the host family will be contacted and advised that a ticket will be issued. While waiting for the ticket to be issued the child/children will be permitted to travel on the service and the driver and inspector will be aware of this in all such cases where these arrangements are being provided.

Children will be expected to meet the service at the existing pick-up point.

There will be no charge for the ticket and the child will be guaranteed a ticket for the duration of their education while living in their current accommodation.

If the family moves to new accommodation a new application for transport will be required.

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 (or similar)

School principals may apply for transport for children attending their school who are residing in accommodation centres (or similar).

School principals should complete the information required on the application form below and return it to realt@loetb.ie. The information will be submitted by REALT Coordinator to School Transport Section of the Department of Education, which will in turn liaise with Bus Éireann in order to provide school transport services as required.

School Transport application for children from Ukraine residing in Accommodation Centres