Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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259. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 224 and 225 of 15 January 2014, if consideration will be given to allowing the payment of the school transport fee in January rather than December; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3799/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that annual charging, as opposed to term charging, was introduced in the 2009/10 school year. The current annual charges for school transport are €100 per child at primary level and €350 per child at post primary level; these charges are subject to an annual family maximum of €220 for families with children attending primary schools only or an overall family maximum of €650. Families with children who are eligible for school transport and who hold valid medical cards (GMS Scheme) are exempt from the annual charge. Eligible children with special educational needs also travel free of charge. Together these children represent over half the number of children who avail of school transport services.

Bus Éireann has advised that invoices for school transport services are issued in July of each year and families who wish to pay the annual charge in two instalments are advised that the second instalment is due on or before the first Friday in December. The December deadline ensures that Bus Éireann are in a position to issue tickets to coincide with the recommencement of services following the Christmas holiday period.