Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the charges for the school transport scheme; the reasoning for the price difference between junior cycle and senior cycle post-primary pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13721/08]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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In framing the school transport charges in the early 1980s, my Department was anxious to positively discriminate in favour of pupils at the earlier stages of their education and accordingly eligible junior cycle pupils were allowed, as a concession, to avail of a lower rate of charge than senior cycle pupils.

The current charges per term for eligible pupils, applicable from the final term of the current school year are: Junior Cycle €46, Senior Cycle €71 with a maximum family contribution of €150 per term. The term charge may be waived in the case of eligible post-primary children where the family is in possession of a valid medical card. These revised charges at Junior and Senior Cycles equate to about 82 cent and €1.27 cent per day respectively.

In overall terms, receipts from school transport charges represent only about 5% of the school transport allocation.