County Louth VEC - Choiste Gairmoideachais Chontae Lú

School Transport Calendars 2011/2012 Click here

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* Notice - School Transport arrangements for children residing in the catchment area of Coláiste Na Hinse, Laytown and attending attending Post-Primary Schools in Drogheda/Balbriggan  Click Here

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The school transport scheme is operated by Bus Eireann on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills (School Transport Section).

Bus Eireann is responsible for planning routes, employing bus drivers, collecting fares and ensuring compliance with safety regulations and insurance.

County Louth V.E.C. is responsible for administering the school transport scheme in County Louth for all second-level schools. The Chief Executive Officer assists Bus Eireann by acting as Transport Liaison  Officer for the county.

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 the first day of January of the school year in which the pupil enters second level education;

• as a rule, have completed a full course of primary education;

• live 4.8 kilometres (3 miles), or more, from his/her appropriate post- primary education centre. 

Eligible pupils may be transported to the post primary centre which caters for the catchment area in which they 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 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.

How to Apply for School Transport

School transport forms are sent to the V.E.C. Offices at the end of February of each year, the forms are then sent by V.E.C. staff to the eighteen schools in the county.

There are three types of forms available:

• T-Form  - Transfer Form, pupil changing residence or school.
• N-Form  - New pupil enrolling for the first time in a post-primary school
• E-Form  - Pupil already in the school but applying for transport for the first time.

Forms can be acquired at the post-primary schools from March onwards. The form must be completed fully and signed by the school principal.

The forms are then forwarded to the V.E.C. Office (School Transport Section) for routing and processing. Processed forms are forwarded to Bus Eireann by Louth V.E.C. staff; it is the duty of Bus Eireann to issue invoices and tickets.

Cost of Transport 2011/2012

Eligible Post Primary pupils from families with medical cards will continue to be exempt from charges.

The amount due may be paid in full on or before the 29th July 2011, in which case an Annual Ticket for the full school year will be issued. Alternatively, 50% of the annual amount due may be paid by the deadline date of 29th July 2011, in which case a ticket valid for travel up to 22nd December, 2010 will be issued. In this instance the balance due must be paid by 2nd December 2011. Upon receipt of this payment a second ticket, valid for travel up to the end of the school year in June 2012, will be issued.

Conditions

Full Home: This applies to students residing over 4.8 Km from their nearest school. These students are eligible for school transport.

Catchment Boundary: Students attending schools outside their catchment area May avail of transport provided seats are available on the bus after all eligible students have been accommodated. Transport is provided on a term basis only and will be withdrawn if seats are not available on the bus.

Special Free: Free transport is available to foster children and children of members of the traveller community.

Further information regarding school transport is available from the Department of Education website: www.education.ie