Question 35: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the financial implications for families of the introduction of charges for school transport; and if he will consider reviewing same. [12122/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The changes to school transport services were announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and derive from a recommendation in the Value for Money Review of the scheme.

This review identified that, in 2008, the unit cost per primary pupil for the provision of school transport (excluding special needs pupils) was €1,020.

From the beginning of the 2011/12 school year a €50 charge, which applies to eligible primary pupils, is being introduced to ensure that school transport services are fully utilised in a cost efficient manner. Eligible pupils holding medical cards and pupils with special educational needs will be exempt from paying the charge. In addition, the maximum family charge at primary level for eligible pupils will be €110 per annum. Parents will have the option of spreading the annual payments over two instalments in July and December.

Given the major financial constraints facing the country, I regret that I cannot reverse the changes to school transport as announced by the previous Government. We all have to understand the legacy of economic mismanagement which the last Government gave to the country.