Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his plans to introduce school transport charges for pupils attending primary schools; his plans to increase the charges already levied on post-primary pupils; the charges he is planning to introduce; if there will be a cap on the charges; the persons who will have to pay the charges and those who will be exempt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14349/04]

Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The annual revenue currently generated from existing school transport charges is about 6% of the overall expenditure on school transport services.

While I have no immediate plans to introduce charges for pupils attending primary schools or to increase charges for pupils attending post-primary schools, the matter is being kept under review in the context of the escalating cost of school transport and any future demands on the service. Expenditure on school transport has more than doubled since 1997 and this year's allocation is €110.471 million.