Bus for 2nd Level Student Scary Prices!

sabinalee

Hi,

I hope you help me very much here....as Im looking for a prompt advice.
My 17 year old daughter attend to school in Celbridge, where we live now. She is in her 5th year now, and she do not use any bus service.

In July we will move to Edenderry, Co. Offaly, where we could afford to buy own house.
Our daughter, without any stress of changing the schools for  her 6th year and living cert, could take BE bus no 120 from Edenderry to Celbridge <-> Celbridge-Edenderry from Monday-Friday. 

My questions is- is there any way she could apply for school service, or if not can you let us know what would be the price of yearly school ticket on that route please.

The price with return is showing 15 euro!! That would be 3400 over year only for a bus??!!

Please help with your advice/ Thank You!

magicbastarder

are there no weekly/monthly tickets available?

Bass Reeves

sabinalee wrote: »

Hi,

I hope you help me very much here....as Im looking for a prompt advice.
My 17 year old daughter attend to school in Celbridge, where we live now. She is in her 5th year now, and she do not use any bus service.

In July we will move to Edenderry, Co. Offaly, where we could afford to buy own house.
Our daughter, without any stress of changing the schools for  her 6th year and living cert, could take BE bus no 120 from Edenderry to Celbridge <-> Celbridge-Edenderry from Monday-Friday. 

My questions is- is there any way she could apply for school service, or if not can you let us know what would be the price of yearly school ticket on that route please.

The price with return is showing 15 euro!! That would be 3400 over year only for a bus??!!

Please help with your advice/ Thank You!

Unless there is a present school buss service she cannot avail of that. However you can get a yearly student rate commuter ticket check with bus company for the cost. Another option would be to get an adult yearly commuter ticket through work. Paying by the day is the most expensive option

n97 mini

Student 10 journey is EUR54.50, ie just under EUR11 return.

rubberdungeon

A personalised child leap card is valid until the last day of the 18th birthday.

Check with Bus Eireann to see can she use this to buy child fares.


https://about.leapcard.ie/about/card-ticket-types/child-leap-card

Mrs OBumble

Bass Reeves wrote: »

. Another option would be to get an adult yearly commuter ticket through work. Paying by the day is the most expensive option

Not an option because taxsaver tickets are only valid for the purchaser to use, npt their kids.

schemingbohemia

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Unless there is a present school buss service she cannot avail of that. However you can get a yearly student rate commuter ticket check with bus company for the cost. Another option would be to get an adult yearly commuter ticket through work. Paying by the day is the most expensive option

How can she get a taxsaver ticket when she's a student? Or are you suggesting breaking the law?

sabinalee

OMG, I cant imagine to pay so many thousands euro over year for the bus tickets for 17 year old...
Am I in position to put my daughter with so much stress changing the school for the 6th year leaving cert?

n97 mini

Student 7-day Leap fare is EUR55. Slightly better value than a Student 10-journey ticket.

Mrs OBumble

n97 mini wrote: »

Student 7-day Leap fare is EUR55. Slightly better value than a Student 10-journey ticket.

Do leap cards work on Bus Eireann regional services though?

Bass Reeves

schemingbohemia wrote: »

How can she get a taxsaver ticket when she's a student? Or are you suggesting breaking the law?

She may have a summer/parttime job that would make it tax efficient. It is also virtually impossible for 2nd level students to get student cards so a student ticket may not be an option. No I am not suggesting breaking the law. But this situation again show the crock of a bus service we have where individuals have to jump through hoops to try to get to school or work. It is really down to the situation where a commuter if buying tickets daily for about 8 months of the year will pay over 3 grand to commute less than 45 KM. If they are paying 3K they be better off getting there child a car it would be in the same price bracket.

This couple are obiviously in the low to middle income bracket if they have to move that far to buy a house and cannot afford to but within the dublin commuter belt. So no matter what way they can reduce there daughters travel cost at a critical time for them and especially for there daughter who's results will decide her future career. It about humanity and understanding not political correctness

Bass Reeves

OP ring BE often they have yearly tickets on such routes that are not available online. These may be cheaper than above options. Also there may be 2nd school tickets that are a cheaper option.

SOPHIE THE DOG

sabinalee wrote: »

Hi,

I hope you help me very much here....as Im looking for a prompt advice.
My 17 year old daughter attend to school in Celbridge, where we live now. She is in her 5th year now, and she do not use any bus service.

In July we will move to Edenderry, Co. Offaly, where we could afford to buy own house.
Our daughter, without any stress of changing the schools for  her 6th year and living cert, could take BE bus no 120 from Edenderry to Celbridge <-> Celbridge-Edenderry from Monday-Friday. 

My questions is- is there any way she could apply for school service, or if not can you let us know what would be the price of yearly school ticket on that route please.

The price with return is showing 15 euro!! That would be 3400 over year only for a bus??!!

Please help with your advice/ Thank You!

At €15 per day for 34 weeks that's €2550 (not €3400).
At €11 per week (as someone mentioned) for 34 weeks that's €374

Victor

sabinalee wrote: »

In July we will move to Edenderry, Co. Offaly, where we could afford to buy own house.

sabinalee wrote: »

OMG, I cant imagine to pay so many thousands euro over year for the bus tickets for 17 year old...

Realise that these are counter-balancing costs.

rubberdungeon wrote: »

A personalised child leap card is valid until the last day of the 18th birthday.

More correctly, until the day before their 19th birthday.

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Do leap cards work on Bus Eireann regional services though?

In Dublin, yes. Also commuter services in Cork. Other areas subject to checking.

jimmycrackcorm

sabinalee wrote:

Our daughter, without any stress of changing the schools for her 6th year and living cert, could take BE bus no 120 from Edenderry to Celbridge Celbridge-Edenderry from Monday-Friday.

You should rethink this. As a parent myself I understand that we can be over protective of your kids but that's not to say that it will be stressful.

There might also be positives in changing to a local school such as new friends, no travel stress and reduced time traveling. Especially as the change is at the start of a school year.

paulmurphyvec

Maybe contact Bus Eireann and see?

paulmurphyvec

Maybe contact Bus Eireann directly and ask them, they are usually very helpful.

sabinalee

Emailed them already. I will call them tomorrow, if no reply.
Thank You to all of You.

sabinalee

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

sabinalee wrote:

Our daughter, without any stress of changing the schools for her 6th year and living cert, could take BE bus no 120 from Edenderry to Celbridge Celbridge-Edenderry from Monday-Friday.

You should rethink this. As a parent myself I understand that we can be over protective of your kids but that's not to say that it will be stressful.

There might also be positives in changing to a local school such as new friends, no travel stress and reduced time traveling. Especially as the change is at the start of a school year.

Schools in Edenderry are good, but she already picked the leaving cert subjects last year. Not all of them...like for example Technology is offered in the local schools...which means, she would have to pick new one and prepare extremely fast to pass exam + study to 6 others subjects.
She was even thinking about repeating 5th year....and start again with new set of subjects, but I don"t think schools would agree for this.
We have no choice...after 10 years with same landlord, rent increase and now decision about selling the house in  July, we have to move...and finally we can owe our own house.

munchkin_utd

from what I can see the school transport scheme can also be granted for scheduled services which is then only a few hundred per year.
You would need to create an account with the school transport scheme, add your child with their new home address and the school and submit an application.
http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=257

but as said above, ring them and they should have an idea if in principle you can get a ticket and if that bus has capacity for more school kids.
Your new address is in Offaly so I presume these are the guys to ring:

Westmeath, Longford, Offaly, Roscommon, Laois
Bus ?ireann School Transport Office
Station Road
Athlone
090 6473277

Bass Reeves

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

You should rethink this. As a parent myself I understand that we can be over protective of your kids but that's not to say that it will be stressful.

There might also be positives in changing to a local school such as new friends, no travel stress and reduced time traveling. Especially as the change is at the start of a school year.

I agree we can be over protective of Children. However leaving certificate is such a critical exam now it decide's a lot of a young person future. Maybe if the child was only doing the junior cert it would not be as critical or at the begining of 5th year. Subject choice is a huge issue at leaving cert and as well the child may be put into unsuitable classes.

sabinalee wrote: »

Schools in Edenderry are good, but she already picked the leaving cert subjects last year. Not all of them...like for example Technology is offered in the local schools...which means, she would have to pick new one and prepare extremely fast to pass exam + study to 6 others subjects.
She was even thinking about repeating 5th year....and start again with new set of subjects, but I don"t think schools would agree for this.
We have no choice...after 10 years with same landlord, rent increase and now decision about selling the house in  July, we have to move...and finally we can owe our own house.

Best of luck with the new house and hope it works out for you all in your new home.

Macker1

SOPHIE THE DOG wrote:

At €15 per day for 34 weeks that's €2550 (not €3400). At €11 per week (as someone mentioned) for 34 weeks that's €374

That's 11 euro a day.........

magicbastarder

Bass Reeves wrote: »

She may have a summer/parttime job that would make it tax efficient

i can't see a summer job earning enough to get into even the lower tax bracket, which would mean there would be zero tax efficiency on this.

ludite

Depending on the bus driver, you could try get a childs ticket. I was able to get one when I was in 6th year.

Mrs OBumble

Victor wrote: »

.
In Dublin, yes. Also commuter services in Cork. Other areas subject to checking.

I don't think thats right. Leaps website says trains and Cork city services, nothing about commuter services.

For Dublin it says BE services in the "Eastern region (excluding expressway)" - but doesn't define what the eastern region is.

sabinalee

sabinalee wrote: »

............
The price with return is showing 15 euro!! That would be 3400 over year only for a bus??!!

Please help with your advice/ Thank You!

Your figures are based on a 46 week year, school isn't a full time job

myshirt

Op, that would partly be the reason why the house is cheaper in Edenderry; because of the transport links. With that level of travel, overall expense to the family might not move much. Also, 2 hours travelling per day is likely to take its toll in Leaving Cert year, I'd be cautious if it was an option and think through it due to the impact it has on your child.

Best wishes.

sabinalee

myshirt wrote: »

Op, that would partly be the reason why the house is cheaper in Edenderry; because of the transport links. With that level of travel, overall expense to the family might not move much. Also, 2 hours travelling per day is likely to take its toll in Leaving Cert year, I'd be cautious if it was an option and think through it due to the impact it has on your child.

Best wishes.

But I wasn't that smart... but still hoping we will find best way to our daughter.

sabinalee

Augeo wrote: »

sabinalee wrote: »

............
The price with return is showing 15 euro!! That would be 3400 over year only for a bus??!!

Please help with your advice/ Thank You!

Your figures are based on a 46 week year, school isn't a full time job

I was rushing on my break at work posting my topic, sorry, I calculated this not super accurately. 
Still, it would be too much to pay if she pay for day-to day student ticket.
School is the full time...hard work...for students.

LXFlyer

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I don't think thats right. Leaps website says trains and Cork city services, nothing about commuter services.

For Dublin it says BE services in the "Eastern region (excluding expressway)" - but doesn't define what the eastern region is.

Just to correct this.

LEAP Cards most certainly do work on all of Bus Eireann PSO services in the eastern region - there are zonal fares.

The full list of routes is on the Leap Card Dublin page on the Bus Eireann website - scroll down the page.

http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=234

sabinalee

Bass Reeves wrote: »

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

You should rethink this. As a parent myself I understand that we can be over protective of your kids but that's not to say that it will be stressful.

There might also be positives in changing to a local school such as new friends, no travel stress and reduced time traveling. Especially as the change is at the start of a school year.

I agree we can be over protective of Children. However leaving certificate is such a critical exam now it decide's a lot of a young person future. Maybe if the child was only doing the junior cert it would not be as critical or at the begining of 5th year. Subject choice is a huge issue at leaving cert and as well the child may be put into unsuitable classes.

sabinalee wrote: »

Schools in Edenderry are good, but she already picked the leaving cert subjects last year. Not all of them...like for example Technology is offered in the local schools...which means, she would have to pick new one and prepare extremely fast to pass exam + study to 6 others subjects.
She was even thinking about repeating 5th year....and start again with new set of subjects, but I don"t think schools would agree for this.
We have no choice...after 10 years with same landlord, rent increase and now decision about selling the house in  July, we have to move...and finally we can owe our own house.

Best of luck with the new house and hope it works out for you all in your new home.

hank You. We are always very positive, We found lovely house in the place where the bus could pass our daughter school.place, let her finish great job..but ..I never realized, as I'm not a public transport user, that the BE prices are so expensive. My fault.Will call to every possible places, email, etc and we will get there ( again ) 

sabinalee

lxflyer wrote: »

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

I don't think thats right.  Leaps website says trains and Cork city services, nothing about commuter services.

For Dublin it says BE services in the "Eastern region (excluding expressway)" - but doesn't define what the eastern region is.

Just to correct this.

LEAP Cards most certainly do work on all of Bus Eireann PSO services in the eastern region - there are zonal fares.

The full list of routes is on the Leap Card Dublin page on the Bus Eireann website - scroll down the page.

http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=234

Unfortunately, looks like yellow zone, where Edenderry is   not apply to child or student leap card users.

C3PO

I really don't want to appear rude but Edenderry to Celbridge is approx. 43kms - how much would you expect to pay for a 90kms round trip? According to the Bus Eireann timetable (Route 120) the journey takes 60 minutes each way and leaves every 30 minutes - that's a huge chunk of time for a child that's studying for her leaving!

sabinalee

I would not expect to pay 15 euro for daily return ticket if I was a student. I would share the room, closer to university, which i actually did.
Maybe as a third option, we should rent her a room in a school principal house so we could avoid all transport issues. She could easily continue to be student of the year then :P

LXFlyer

sabinalee wrote: »

Unfortunately, looks like yellow zone, where Edenderry is not apply to child or student leap card users.

Student weekly Yellow Zone LEAP card fare is available - €55 per week.

Hilly Bill

sabinalee wrote: »

I would not expect to pay 15 euro for daily return ticket if I was a student. I would share the room, closer to university, which i actually did.
Maybe as a third option, we should rent her a room in a school principal house so we could avoid all transport issues. She could easily continue to be student of the year then :P

Will the rent be cheaper..

Bass Reeves

Augeo wrote: »

Your figures are based on a 46 week year, school isn't a full time job

It immaterial really we can see from this why people choose to use there car to work rather than public transport. Distance between Edenderry to Celbridge is 43KM. An efficient Deiesel car will do 20km to the litre so about 5.5/day in fuel costs and a 35 minute journey. As opposed to BE 53 euro/week for a 10 journey ticket or over 10 euro/day and a one hour journey. This is why rural Ireland was not in a panic with the BE strike for most workers BE is immaterial as they cannot afford to travel to and from work using BE. They are too expensive and journeys take too long as well as timetable not frequent enough

Hilly Bill

5.50 a day in fuel..?

Bass Reeves

Hilly Bill wrote: »

5.50 a day in fuel..?

yes in an fairly fuel efficient diesel car Hyundai I 30, diesel crolla 60ishMPG.

magicbastarder

you do realise you have to buy the car though?

Bass Reeves

magicbastarder wrote: »

you do realise you have to buy the car though?

If you read my previous post I was explaining why people outside the major cities choose to use cars rather than travel by bus to work. The reality is bust service is limited and in general schedule is poor so the choice is it is more efficient to own a car. In general people need to travel at other times as well for shopping, leisue activitied and if you have children for after school activities so in general a car is a necessity in Ireland outside larger urban area's unless you live adajcent to work

When you have a car it is usually much cheaper to drive to work withh added flexability of time efficiency rather than be dependent on public transport

magicbastarder

point being made was that you can't compare the cost of bus travel simply against the cost of the fuel to run a car for a similar journey. it's not a fair comparison, as it doesn't take all overheads - for either method - into account.

Bass Reeves

magicbastarder wrote: »

point being made was that you can't compare the cost of bus travel simply against the cost of the fuel to run a car for a similar journey. it's not a fair comparison, as it doesn't take all overheads - for either method - into account.

It should not be way cheaper for a person using a car rather than public transport to be willing to travel by themselves to and from work as fuel ios cheaper. Limerick to Tralee return journey is 18 euro. That is an over 100km journey. The main reason is that BE has to compete for business with a private operator. But PSO routes and there users are badly served by the present public transport system. This shows in the limited options available to OP.

C3PO

Bass Reeves wrote: »

It should not be way cheaper for a person using a car rather than public transport to be willing to travel by themselves to and from work as fuel ios cheaper. Limerick to Tralee return journey is 18 euro. That is an over 100km journey. The main reason is that BE has to compete for business with a private operator. But PSO routes and there users are badly served by the present public transport system. This shows in the limited options available to OP.

This is going way off topic but it would not be cheaper, never mind "way" cheaper, to use a car rather than public transport if you consider all of the cost of car ownership which I the point that Magicbastarder was making!

magicbastarder

exactly - in the example above, the fuel costs are about half the bus ticket costs, but with the bus ticket there's no other costs such as tax, insurance, or ownership.

i don't envy the OP, if she's in a situation where she had to move much further out because of house prices. but one of the reasons that house prices are cheaper the further out you go is because it's harder to get decent services as the population levels and spread make them more expensive to provide.

i've lived in suburbs in dublin where there would be a bus along every ten minutes. one every half hour in edenderry doesn't sound unreasonable as a result. and a fiver (in essence) for a 43km bus trip is not that bad, considering i would pay €2.05 for a single ticket on dublin bus for a 5km trip.

i think one of the main issues here is that BE pricing is *not* structured with 90km round trips for unwaged secondary students in mind. and it'd be odd if it was.

Mrs OBumble

[quote="sabinalee;103314423"
Maybe as a third option, we should rent her a room in a school principal house so we could avoid all transport issues. She could easily continue to be student of the year then :P[/quote]

I think you said that as a joke - but i was wondering if digs style accommodation four four nights a week might be an option.

Or maybe a friend of hers may have a spare room and a mother looking to make some cash?

It would depend on the kid, of course some simply would not be sensible enough. But it might be an option.

schemingbohemia

Insurance for a 17 year old presumably fully licensed driver - €2k per annum minimum.
Motor Tax - Say €300.

Then you can add your fuel per trip and compare Bus vs Car.

sabinalee

House is not ours yet...only sale agreed

Even we can afford Tallagh, Clondalkin, Newbridge,  some parts of  Naas, or small rural town ( we did not like )... to get to Celbridge, she will have to get a bus, luas, or train or both and walk a lot more.
We picked Edenderry as we thought it want be a huge problem to use public transport to Celbridge. Also, it is 30 minutes from our work places. Also, Edenderry has a good schools, and  we are sure our 6 year old son will be happy down in one of them.
I did set up meetings with principals of Edenderry schools, to have a chat about our situation and what would be the best for our daughter in their opinions.

Most important - she is open to changes, and she gave us permission to move a bit further  Life wouldnt be fair for her if she did not use HER VOTE
Thank You all....! You brought me lots of different viewings on things now...

magicbastarder

i nearly went from fifth year in dublin 15 to sixth year in a school in sligo. thankfully that move fell through!

sabinalee

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

[quote="sabinalee;103314423"
Maybe as a third option, we should rent her a room in a school principal house so we could avoid all transport issues. She could easily continue to be student of the year then :P

I think you said that as a joke - but i was wondering if digs style accommodation four four nights a week might be an option.

Or maybe a friend of hers may have a spare room and a mother looking to make some cash?

It would depend on the kid, of course some simply would not be sensible enough.   But it might be an option.[/quote]


There is a few friendly people who already offered that option....so we will consider that too

sabinalee

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

[quote="sabinalee;103314423"
Maybe as a third option, we should rent her a room in a school principal house so we could avoid all transport issues. She could easily continue to be student of the year then :P

I think you said that as a joke - but i was wondering if digs style accommodation four four nights a week might be an option.

Or maybe a friend of hers may have a spare room and a mother looking to make some cash?

It would depend on the kid, of course some simply would not be sensible enough.   But it might be an option.[/quote]


There is a few friendly people who already offered that option....so we will consider that too