School Transport - Kilkenny children must apply by this Friday to guarantee seat for next year!

Kilkenny parents and guardians are reminded that THIS FRIDAY, April 28, the closing date to apply for school bus transport for next year.

The Bus Éireann portal is open for applications for school transport for the 2023/24 school year. The closing date for new applications is Friday 28 April 2023. New applications made after this deadline date will be deemed late and families are not guaranteed a ticket.

Payment/medical card details for all pupils who wish to be considered for the allocation of a ticket for the 2023/24 school year can be submitted between 3 April 2023 and 9 June 2023.

Children (who are eligible for school transport) with valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from paying the annual charge, however their medical card details must be submitted between 3 April 2023 and 9 June 2023.

Arrests update: Rolex watches, vehicles and cash seized in Kilkenny Garda led operation

Five people were arrested on Tuesday

Payments/medical card details must be submitted for new applicants and also for pupils who have previously applied/availed of school transport and require a seat on a service for the 23/24 school year.

Updates on the application process can be found on Gov.ie (link to School Transport) and on buseireann.ie

Eligibility

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.

Kilkenny's My Father's Dragon leads way with seven Irish Animation Award nominations

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.
 

Because of the nature of concessionary transport for non-eligible children and the priority of providing places for eligible children, there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places, in these cases Bus Éireann will allocate tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

Free school book scheme - Kilkenny pupils no longer have to pay for schoolbooks

More than €1 million has been allocated to the scheme in Co Kilkenny

Pupils from Ukraine

Pupils from Ukraine who require school transport should not apply on the Bus Éireann family portal but should visit gov.ie/ukraine for details on how to apply. Please note that any pupils from Ukraine who are currently on school transport do not need to re-apply for the 2023/24 school year unless they have changed address or school.