Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the impact that revised ticket charges for school transport will have on pupils and their families in the 2009-10 school year. [13629/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to point out that, despite the escalating costs of the service from €109.8 million in 2004 to €192 million in 2009 or 75%, charges for school transport had not been increased from 1998 until the third school term in the 2007/08 school year. A further increase was put in place at the start of the 2008/09 school year and the new charges come into effect from September 2009.

In the overall context and in order to minimise the overall effects, these charge increases have been confined to the 55,000 eligible post-primary and children availing of concessionary transport. Charges continue to be waived in the case of eligible post-primary children (or over 22,300 children) where the family is in possession of a valid medical card. Eligible children attending primary schools and children with special needs (or 54,500 children) will still travel free. A maximum family rate of €650 will also be applied.

Parents are also being given the option of spreading the amount due over two payments payable in July and December 2009. Those who pay the full annual charge, in advance, will benefit from a ticket being issued for the school year and this includes pupils on concessionary travel.

The total contribution of charges from parents in 2009 will still only represent about 8.6% of the overall expenditure for school transport. Taking into all the factors outlined, it is not envisaged that there will be a reduction in the annual charge system, the estimated expenditure or a change in the payment arrangements. My Department has also commenced a Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme which is due to be completed before the end of the year.