THE INCREASES in school transport, announced yesterday and due to come into effect at the start of the next school year, have been criticised by Fine Gael. Fees for junior cycle students will increase from €46 to €56 per term and senior cycle students' fees will go up from €71 to €78.
At primary level fees will go from €36 per term to €40. The maximum family contribution will increase by 10 per cent, going from €150 to €165.
The school transport scheme currently carries about 140,000 pupils each school day, 55,000 of whom are in the post-primary sector, 76,000 are primary pupils and about 9,000 are pupils with special needs.
The Department of Education says the system requires almost 3,000 buses with Bus Éireann providing 20 per cent of the bus fleet while the balance is provided by private contractors.
Frank Feighan TD, Fine Gael's spokesman on school transport accused the Government of "targeting families during Brian Cowen's recession".
He said school transport charges were increased as recently as last Easter and yesterday's hike represents a 70 per cent increase in just four months for second-level students, while primary transport fees have jumped by 53 per cent.
"There may well need to be an increase in fees as costs go up, but a 70 per cent increase seems excessive and I would like to know how Minister Batt O'Keeffe can justify such a massive hike in just four months, considering that rising prices will not account for such huge rises in such a short period of time" he added.