Figures show 45 Roscommon students missed out on school bus tickets

Forty five Roscommon students missed out on school bus tickets for the 2025/26 school year, according to new figures.

Of those affected, 16 were concessionary pupils who applied on time but did not receive a ticket. Concessionary seats are spare seats that may be available after all eligible children have secured their seats.

A further ten students were concessionary applicants who missed the application deadline, while the remaining 19 cases involved eligible pupils who submitted their applications late.

The information was supplied by Junior Minister for Education Michael Moynihan in response to a parliamentary question from Roscommon/Galway Fianna Fáil TD Martin Daly.

Under the terms of the mainstream School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport if they live at least 3.2 kilometres from and attend their nearest primary school, or at least 4.8 kilometres from and attend their nearest post primary school.

The Minister explained that due to the nature of concessionary transport there may be an excess of demand over supply for concessionary places. He said in these cases Bus Éireann allocates tickets for spare seats using an agreed selection process.

In the 2025/26 school year 2,586 mainstream tickets were issued to pupils in County Roscommon.

The deadline to apply and pay for the 2026/2027 school transport scheme is Friday, May 8th through Bus Éireann's online School Transport Family Portal.