Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

School transport charges are escalating all the time owing to expanding numbers and the growing diversity of schools, and in order to meet the transport needs of special needs children. The allocation for school transport has increased from €51.1 million in 1998 to €175.2 million in 2008, a 340% increase. Major improvements, some of which I referred to earlier, have been made to the scheme since 2001. All of these improvements cost money.

Obviously, as we have only recently dealt with the Estimates for 2009, I am not in a position to say what will be the case in the future. However, as I stated earlier, school transport charges had not been increased for ten years. I take this opportunity to inform the House that my officials are currently examining, in conjunction with Bus Éireann, potential options in regard to the payment of the maximum family charge of €600. For example, the financial implications of spreading a portion of the payment for this specific group of parents into 2010 will be of central importance. I assure the Deputy that parents will be given ample notice of any options agreed in this regard.

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