Donegal families urged to log onto school transport portal for Friday deadline
“School transport is a cornerstone of our education system, particularly in rural counties like Donegal. I am keen to ensure that no family misses out because of a missed deadline”
Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue, is urging parents and guardians across the county to log onto the Bus Éireann school transport portal ahead of the upcoming deadline this Friday, May 8th.
“This scheme is extremely important in that it provides a vital service to thousands of families across Donegal,” the Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy commented.
To ensure seats are secured for the 2026/27 academic year, families must complete their applications, make payments, or enter medical card details by the Friday cutoff.
“School transport is a cornerstone of our education system, particularly in rural counties like Donegal. I am keen to ensure that no family misses out because of a missed deadline. So, I am encouraging everyone to log into the Bus Éireann Family Portal to ensure their details are up to date and their requirements are logged,” he added.
While families who previously applied do not need to reapply unless their circumstances have changed, they must still log in to complete the payment process or submit medical card details.
New applications are required for students new to the scheme (including those starting junior infants or first year), students who have changed their home address or school, students in BoTP, IPAS, or EROC accommodation who are new to the scheme or have changed location, and children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) who are new to the scheme or changing schools.
Acknowledging the continued affordability of the scheme – for the 2026/27 year, primary and post-primary tickets are capped at €100 per child – Minister McConalogue said this reflected a significant government commitment to reducing the cost of living, with daily costs as low as 55 cents per day.
“No family will pay more than €220 for the entire year, and for those with medical cards and SEN, the service remains free. We have also introduced an instalment facility to help spread the cost,” the Minister added.