School bus charges will not rise, says Haughey

SCHOOL bus fares will not go up next autumn but the Government is seeking ways to recoup some of the €186 million annual school transport bill from September 2011, according to Minister of State Sean Haughey.

He confirmed to TDs at the Dáil Education Committee that his officials are in discussions with the Department of Finance about An Bord Snip Nua’s suggestion last year that a flat charge of €500 be levied on all pupils who use the school transport service.

The measure would meet half the €1,000-per-pupil cost to taxpayers of providing the services to those attending mainstream schools, although the average cost is estimated at almost €1,500 when special needs pupils availing of the service are included. Even with increased charges introduced in the past three years, only €19m was raised from charges to families out of a total school transport budget last year of €178m.