Bus Éireann is blaming "IT glitches" for a delay which has left tens of thousands of schoolchildren without their bus tickets.
Around 115,000 primary and secondary students use the annual school bus service, and so far only 82,000 tickets have been issued. The remaining students will be issued temporary tickets they can use while they wait for their paper tickets.
Families are being advised that evidence of payment will also be accepted on buses this week.
The delay - which has left over 30,000 schoolchildren without their bus tickets - is being blamed on a new, centralised computer system. In the past the €650 annual tickets were issued at local offices. Issues with the new system saw the payment deadline extended by nine days.
Bus Éireann says temporary tickets are being issued via email and post this week. Evidence of payment will also be accepted until Friday 29th August.
The company says the remaining tickets will be issued and posted over the coming days, once payment or medical card details have been processed.
It is also advising that, while the scheme's closing date was August 1st, late payments will be accepted and tickets issued where seats remain available.
Bus Éireann has set up a helpline for those having technical problems with the new online system. It is available on 1800 945 945.
Nicola Cooke, Bus Éireann's Media and PR Manager, says staff are working around the clock to resolve the delays:
Originally posted 7:32am
