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 0085/2024.
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.
An SNA can also work as a bus escort but there are 2 separate contracts of employments – the DE is the employer for the SNA and the BOM is the employer for the bus escorts. A bus escort can divide their tax credits if they wish using myAccount on Revenue.
The current hourly rate of pay is €15.20 + 8% holiday pay. Accrued holiday pay can paid at Christmas, Easter and Summer breaks.
> See Financial Guideline for more info
| PRIOR YEARS’ BUS ESCORT RATES OF PAY | ||
| YEAR | Period | Rate per hour |
| 2011/12 | SEPT 2011 – JUNE 2012 | € 11.69 |
| 2012/13 | SEPT 2012 – JUNE 2013 | € 11.69 |
| 2013/14 | SEPT 2013 – JUNE 2014 | € 11.69 |
| 2014/15 | SEPT 2014 – JUNE 2015 | € 11.69 |
| 2015/16 | SEPT 2015 – DEC 2015 | € 11.69 |
| JAN 2016 – JUNE 2016 | € 11.98 | |
| 2016/17 | SEPT 2016 – MARCH 2017 | € 11.98 |
| APRIL 2017 – JUNE 2017 | € 12.47 | |
| 2017/18 | SEPT 2017 – DEC 2017 | € 12.47 |
| JAN 2018 – JUNE 2018 | € 12.59 | |
| 2018/19 | 1 SEPT – 30 SEPT 2018 | € 12.59 |
| 1 OCT 2018 – DEC 2018 | € 12.72 | |
| 1 JAN 2019 – 31 AUG 2019 | € 12.85 | |
| 2019/20 | 1 SEPT – 31 DEC 2019 | € 13.07 |
| 1 JAN 2020 – JUNE 2020 | € 13.14 | |
| 2020/21 | 26 AUGUST – 30 SEPT 2020 | € 13.14 |
| 1 OCT 2020 – 30 Sept 24 | € 13.40 | |
| 2024/25 | 1 OCT 2024 – DATE | € 15.20 |
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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 & Skills,
Portlaoise Road,
Tullamore,
Co. Offaly
R35 Y2N5
Phone No. 057 932 5466/7
Email: school_transport@education.gov.ie
Please email stspayments@education.gov.ie and quote the school roll no.
The Bus Escort grant is paid in advance.
Yes, see Sick Leave for Bus Escorts.
If you have a query that is not addressed in these FAQs, please email us at info@fssu.ie