During the last school year and in the 2021/22 year to date, post-primary level school transport has been running at 50% capacity.
The Department of Education has kept this position under review, as the vaccination programme for post-primary age children was rolled out and as the restrictions were lifted on public transport.
Following the mid-term break, plans will begin for post-primary school transport services to resume operating at 100% capacity, in line with the lifting of restrictions on public transport. All other measures relating to hygiene, pre-assigned seating, cleaning and the wearing of masks by post-primary students will remain in place subject to further review. Any pupil who has been issued a ticket for this school year will retain their ticket for the year.
It will take a period of time to re-organise and re-schedule services. For those families currently availing of school transport services, the local Bus Éireann office will make direct contact if necessary about any revised arrangements.
With regard to post-primary special needs transport services, the Department will work with schools on a case by case basis where such services may be required to continue operating at 50% capacity.
Where additional vehicles that were provided for social distancing purposes are removed and when all services resume operating at 100% capacity, any spare capacity available will be offered on those services to concessionary pupils or late applicants where such capacity exists. Bus Éireann will contact families and provide updates on www.buseireann.ie as the resumption of services operating at 100% capacity continues.
School Transport Scheme services for the 2021/2022 school year will fully operate but with additional measures and hygiene requirements in place. In line with public-health advice, post-primary services will continue to operate at 50% capacity in the 2021/2022 school year. This capacity limit will be subject to ongoing review.
Please read the guidance below carefully. Please talk to your child or children about how they should use school transport services for the coming school year so that they know what to expect
Operation of Primary and Special Educational Needs School Transport Scheme Services for the 2021/2022 School Year
Letter to Parents / Guardians August 2021
Download
Operation of Post-Primary School and Special Educational Needs Transport Scheme Services for the 2021/2022 School Year
Letter to Parents / Guardians August 2021
DownloadBus Éireann has commenced issuing refunds to families who are due to receive a refund for the unused portion of their ticket for the period of school closures arising from public health measures/COVID-19 restrictions in the 2020/2021 school year.
Bus Éireann is managing this refund process on behalf of the Department of Education.
Full information is available at https://www.buseireann.ie/SchoolRefunds.
