Bus Escorts – FAQs

Information relating to Bus Escorts can be found here.

A bus escort is an employee of the Board of Management (BOM) and is paid through payroll with 8% holiday entitlement. Bus escorts are funded through Department of Education (DE) funding and a grant is paid to the BOM. They should receive a contract of employment – Refer to management body for samples of contracts.  A bus escort reconciliation must be submitted to the School Transport Section annually, this determines the amount of funding the school receives.  Any over payment will be carried forward and any shortfall will be reimbursed.

The most recent information in relation to “rolled up holiday pay” is contained in the Department of Education Circular 0055/2025.

Prior to the issue of Circular 0024/2021, the hourly rates paid to bus escorts included an element in respect of annual leave. This practice is known as “rolled-up holiday pay”. The effect of this Circular should be ceased and the practice of paying “rolled-up holiday pay” to such staff, and to introduce a separate payment in respect of holiday pay. This change was made to bring the method of remunerating such staff into line with the European Union Working Time Directive, following a decision of the European Commission.

Yes, an SNA can also work as a bus escort but there should be 2 separate contracts in place.

The board of management are the employer in both cases. The Department is the paymaster for the SNA role and the board of management pay the bus escort role directly through the board of management payroll.

The current hourly rate of pay is €15.98 + 8% holiday pay. Accrued holiday pay can paid at Christmas, Easter and Summer breaks. (Rate last updated 1st Feb 26)
> See Financial Guideline for more info

Application for a bus escort can be made by the BOM to the School Transport Section.  This follows once the initial application has been submitted by the SENO (Special Education Needs Officer) for the bus service and approval granted.

School Transport Section,
Department of Education,
Portlaoise Road,
Tullamore,
Co. Offaly
R35 Y2N5

If you have a query, please use the Customer Query Form at https://cs.education.gov.ie/

If your query is urgent, please contact the School Transport team at telephone: 057-9325466

For specific forms:
• Payee Details Forms should be emailed to payeedetailstransport@education.gov.ie
• Statement of Attendance Forms should be emailed to STSpayments@education.gov.ie

Please email stspayments@education.gov.ie and quote the school roll no.

The Bus Escort grant is paid in advance.

The administration allowance is intended to assist schools in defraying the cost of administering the employment of escorts in their school. It is a matter for the board of management to decide how this is utilised. Note 5% of basic hours is approximately 4% of the total wages cost (i.e Basic Wages plus Holiday Pay plus Employer PRSI plus Employer Auto-enrolment contribution).

Calculation of Surplus or Deficit on Current Year Funding

Calculation examples

Example 1: Surplus on current year funding and advance grant received before 31st of August

*If there is no significant change in bus escort staffing the advance grant payment will be the current year wages cost plus the administration allowance less the surplus of current year funding i.e. €8,000+€320-€1,680.

Example 2: Deficit on current year funding and balancing/advance grant received before 31st of August

*If there is no significant change in bus escort staffing the balancing/advance grant payment will be the current year wages cost plus the administration allowance plus the deficit in current year funding, i.e. €12,000+€480+€2,480.

Example 3: Surplus on current year funding and advance grant received after 31st of August

Example 4: Deficit on current year funding and advance grant received after 31st of August

See “Guidance Note on Treatment of Bus Escort Grant Income Received“.

Yes, see Information Note – School Transport Escorts

See in particular Pg. 12-13 which states:

While the Department issues grant funding for the payment of sick leave, the granting of sick leave is a matter for each employer and is subject to the conditions set out by the employer while adhering to appropriate employment legislation. This information note sets out the maximum grant funding that is allowed, for the duration of the Escort’s sick pay. The Department can, where appropriate, issue additional grant funding for the employment of a substitute escort while the Escort is on sick leave. The Department wishes to advise that the appropriate funding will be made available subject to the following Sick Leave arrangements for approved School Transport Escorts employed by Boards of Management.

The Department may provide grant funding for full pay (less appropriate deduction in respect of P.R.S.I. benefits) during sick leave absences up to the following limits in any period of twelve months service:

▪ After 3 months continuous service – up to 6 weeks

▪ After 6 months continuous service – up to 9 weeks

▪ After 12 months continuous service – up to 13 weeks

No grant funding will be provided for sick pay during the first three months service. Previous service, so far as it has been continuous, may be allowed to reckon towards the qualifying period for the grant of paid sick leave. Qualifying service is exclusive of any period of leave without pay.

Self-certified (Uncertified) Sick Leave: The Department may issue grant funding for a single or two-day self-certified sick leave absence, subject to a maximum of 7 days self-certified paid sick leave over a rolling two-year period.