Home to school transport

Transport will only be awarded to students who meet the following criteria:-

• The course followed is a Full-Time Course;
• The course you are attending is your closest Further Education College
• Transport assistance is not available for the incoming school session if the students 19th birthday is attained on or before 1st July;
• The student is not eligible for student loan assessment.

If the course you are wanting to study is at full capacity in a closer college you may attend a further away college and provided all other criteria is met you may be entitled to transport assistance. In this instance should you have used the Eligibility Checker indicated the course is available within 3 miles of your home address please change to ‘No’ and continue the process.

Yes.  You may appeal on the grounds of exceptional circumstances.  To appeal the decision you can contact your local Transport Office on 02895 985959 or alternatively email your appeal into Transport-Appeals@eani.org.uk

Details on the Transport Exceptional Circumstances Policy can be obtained from the website, www.eani.org.uk or by contacting your Local Transport Office on the number above.

Translink Services: Queries regarding boarding stages on Translink bus routes should be made to the local Translink depot.  You should contact the Translink Helpline at 02890 666630.  Please do not contact the Authority regarding Translink boarding stages as they will be unable to assist in this area.

Where the journey can be covered by more than one mode of public transport, the maximum assistance will be one sessional pass e.g. one Ulsterbus pass or one NIR pass, not both.  The Authority must consider public expenditure when deciding the most appropriate mode of transport.  If the journey at either end of the nearest boarding/alighting point exceeds the statutory distance the Authority will consider alternative provision.  It should be recognised that in such instances the Authority is unable to consider additional expenditure if there is/are suitable college/s closer to home and transport is available.

1. EXPENSES PRIOR TO RECEIPT OF TRANSLINK PASS

Students who have incurred the cost of public service fares whilst awaiting their sessional pass during the months of September and October should make application for reimbursement from Translink as follows:-

• Metro, Ulsterbus and NIR claims are submitted to Translink, Account Office, Milewater Road, Belfast.  A claim form can be obtained from your local Translink Depot.
• Any claim for travel expenses must be submitted within 18 working days from the date of issue of the students travel pass.  Used tickets must be retained and submitted with relevant claim form;
• No refunds from Translink will be accepted for tickets issued after 31 October.

2. LATE APPLICATIONS – AFTER 31 OCTOBER

Students who make application for transport assistance after 31 October will not have their fares reimbursed unless there has been a delay on the part of the Authority or Translink in processing the application.  Tickets, in respect of these fares paid by the student should be retained and forwarded to the appropriate Local Office of the Authority for refund.

If a student loses a Translink travel pass, to get a replacement pass the student needs to get an interim educational ticket from their college reception. They need to post the white component of the ticket to the Translink Pass Office, Floor 1, 22 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7LX - 028 9035 4074 with the appropriate fee determined by Translink.