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Support Services School Transport Scheme
School Transport Scheme PDF Print E-mail

The School Transport Scheme was established in 1967. Each Post Primary School Centre in the country was allocated its own Catchment Area. Bus Éireann operates the service on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. Bus Éireann is responsible for planning routes, employing bus drivers, collecting fares and ensuring compliance with safety regulations and insurance. The Chief Executive Officer assists Bus Éireann by acting as Transport Liaison Officer for South Tipperary.

South Tipperary VEC is responsible for administering the school transport scheme for the following 16 Schools:
  • Cashel Community School: (062) 61167
  • St. Ailbe's Tipperary Town: (062) 51905
  • St. Anne's Tipperary Town: (065) 51747
  • CBS The Abbey Tipperary Town: (062) 52299
  • Coláiste Chluain Meala, Clonmel: (052) 612 1450
  • Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn, Cluain Meala: (052) 612 6269
  • Presentation Secondary School, Clonmel: (052) 612 3587
  • Loreto Secondary School, Clonmel: (052) 612 1402
  • High School, Clonmel: (052) 612 4459
  • Comeragh College, Carrick-on-Suir: (051) 640131
  • Scoil Mhuire, Carrick-on-Suir: (051) 640383
  • C.B.S, Carrick-on-Suir: (051) 640512
  • Coláiste Dún Iascaigh, Cahir: (052) 744 2828
  • Scoil Ruain, Killenaule: (052) 915 6332
  • Presentation Secondary Ballingarry: (052) 915 4104
  • Patrician/Presentation Secondary School, Fethard: (052) 613 1572
Eligibility
To be eligible for transport under this scheme a pupil must:
  • Be enrolled for an approved course in a recognised post-primary school.
  • Be not less than 12 years of age on or before 1 January of the school year in which the pupil enters second level education.
  • Have completed sixth standard in a national school or its equivalent.
  • Live 4.8 kilometres (3 miles), or more, from his/her appropriate post-primary education centre. The shortest walking route measures this distance.
Eligible pupils may be transported to the post-primary centre, which caters for the catchment area in which thy live. (Pupils availing themselves of such facilities are referred to as "Fully Eligible Pupils"). School Transport services are organised as a network of main routes serving each Catchment Area. Pupils living off a main route are expected to get, or be brought, to a convenient pick-up point on the main route. Spurs off the main route will not be operated for such pupils. As a rule, the routes will be planned so that no pupil will have more than 3.2 kilometres (2 miles) to travel to a pick-up point.

Eligibility for Gaelcholáiste
A student attending a Gaelcholáiste will be marked Fully Eligible as long as they are attending their nearest Gaelcholáiste even if the School is outside that particular Catchment Area.

Concessionary Transport
Where eligible pupils attends a school at a centre other than the post-primary centre, which caters for the Catchment Area in which they live, they may be allowed the concession of transport from the Catchment Boundary of the centre attended provided there is room for them on a bus serving that centre. Catchment Boundary students must live more than 4.8 kilometres (3 miles) from their nearest Post Primary Centre. They are themselves responsible for getting to the Catchment Boundary. (Basically eligible pupils availing themselves of such facilities are referred to as "Catchment Boundary Pupils"). A student who is approved for Catchment Boundary Transport is not guaranteed School Transport for the duration of his/her education at that centre. As this is a concessionary measure, continued transport will depend on the availability of spare seats on the bus to that centre each School Term. Priority will be given to eligible pupils enrolled in or proposing to enrol in a school located in the Catchment Area in which they live.

Ineligible Students
Fully Eligible students have to live at least 3 miles from the school. If a student is less than 3 miles they have to apply directly to Bus Éireann for a Concessionary Ticket or arrange private transport for their child. Concessionary Ticket will be given if there are spare seats available after all Fully Eligible and Catchment Boundary Students have been accommodated.

PLC Students
Students attending PLC (Post Leaving Certificate) courses in the county may avail of school transport on a concessionary basis, if a spare seat is available on the relevant bus after all Fully Eligible, Catchment Boundary students have been accommodated and can apply through the normal channels.

Payment
The following is the charging system that will apply for the 2009/10 school year:
  • Eligible post-primary pupil: €300
  • Concessionary post-primary pupil: €300
  • Maximum family contribution: €650

The amount due can be paid in full on-line before the closing date of 31 July 2009.

When you receive your invoice (beginning/middle of July) you can log onto the Bus Éireann website www.buseireann.ie and using your Identity Number and Invoice/Pin Number you can avail of this service. All payments made by Cheque/Postal Orders/Money Orders are to be made out to Bus Éireann.

Please note payment can be made in one or two installments. The full payment can be made in July for an annual ticket or alternatively you can pay 50% in July for a ticket valid untill the 22 December 2009 and the other 50% before 04 December 2009.

Where the parents or legal guardians of eligible pupils are medical cardholders, they may be excused the contribution in respect of such children.

All payments and medical cards should be sent directly to Bus Éireann.

Bus Routes
No special school bus service may be established unless there is a minimum of 7 eligible pupils within an area, which can be reasonably and economically served by a bus route. If you wish to change a Bus Route a Change of Route Form can be requested from South Tipperary VEC.

How to apply for School Transport
Transport forms can be obtained from Post-Primary School to be attended (usually at registration) or downloaded below. Parents should read the terms of the scheme carefully. The form must be completed fully and signed by the school Principal. Parents should keep a copy of the terms of the scheme for future reference. Completed forms can be returned to the School, who will forward them to South Tipperary VEC.

Downloads
'E' form 2009/10 (English version) 116.01 Kb
'E' form 2009/10 (Irish version) 120.47 Kb
'E' form - Existing Application Form: To be completed by pupils already in the school but availing of school transport for the first time or pupils deleted from the requisition.
'N' form 2009/10 (English version) 119.12 Kb
'N' form 2009/10 (Irish version) 124.22 Kb
'N' form - New Application Form: To be completed by all new pupils starting Post Primary School in September.
'T' form 2009/10 (English version) 121.93 Kb
'T' form 2009/10 (Irish version) 123.12 Kb
'T' form - Transferring Application Form: To be completed by pupils changing residence or changing school.

Closing date for receipt of applications by schools was 27 March 2009. Late applications will continue to be processed but priority will be given to applications received before the closing date.

Applications will be assessed by South Tipperary VEC in line with Transport Scheme as set down by Department of Education and Skills. Distances and Catchment Areas are checked. South Tipperary VEC will:

  • notify applicants who are deemed ineligible after consultation with Bus Éireann
  • who are deemed to be 'Catchment Boundary Pupils' and the important implications of such status
  • forward eligible applications to Bus Éireann; it is the duty of Bus Éireann to issue invoices and tickets.
School Transport Scheme Contact Details

Ms. Fionuala McGeever (Chief Executive Officer & Transport Liaison Officer)
Ms. Cora Barron (School Transport Section)

Phone: (052) 612 1067
Fax: (052) 612 5951
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bus Eireann Limerick - Phone: (061) 418855
Bus Eireann Waterford - Phone: (051) 873401
 

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