School Transport Charges rising to €100 a term

Hidden away in the budget documents was a change that will have a big effect on families with children at secondary school. The cost of transport to secondary school is to rise to €300 a year. It is currently 56 aterm for Junior Cert and 78 a term for TY or Leaving Cert. This is an increase of at least €66 euro per child – possibly more if the charges are the same for all ages. This will be even harder on those with children aged 18 still at school because the Child Benefit is being withdrawn fro them from 2010 too.