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  • Home to School Transport

    Topics:
    • Schools and infrastructure, 
    • Transport to school

    The current arrangements for the provision of home to school transport came into operation in September 1997.

    Provision of Home to School Transport

    A child will only be eligible for transport assistance in circumstances where he or she enrols at a grant-aided school which is beyond the qualifying distance from his/her home (two miles for primary pupils or three miles for post-primary pupils) and has been unsuccessful in gaining a place at all suitable schools within the qualifying distance from his/her home.

    For the purposes of the transport arrangements, the term 'suitable school' is defined as being a grant-aided school in any of the following six categories:

    • controlled or other voluntary;
    • maintained;
    • integrated;
    • Irish-medium;
    • denominational grammar (post-primary) ; and
    • non-denominational grammar (post primary).

    The Department is undertaking a review of the current home to school transport policy and as a first step would be keen to hear what the public have to say about school transport. More information can be found on the Department's website at Home to School Transport Review

    More information

    For more detailed information about the home to school transport policy and how to make an application for school transport assistance see:

    • Circular Number 1996/41 - Home to school transport
    • School transport - nidirect

    Related content

    • Abolition of 3-for-2 and standing on school buses
    • Hire of Transport From Cross Border Transport Operators
    • Independent review of home to school transport - report 2014
    • Review of Home to School Transport Policy
    • Seatbelt regulations
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