merrion street

The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD today welcomes the Government announcement of a wide range of once-off measures to assist with increased cost of living pressures which includes the waiving of exam fees and reduced charges for school transport.

For the school year 2023/2024 reduced charges of €50 per student at primary level and €75 per student at post-primary level will apply, with a cap per family of €125. Today’s announcement means that ticketholders will save up to €50 at primary and €275 at post-primary, with an overall reduction in the family maximum contribution of €525 compared to the fees for 2021/2022 school year. This reduction in fees is at a cost of €49m. Currently over 148,800 children are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.   

Further information on the school transport scheme will be communicated to families ahead of the 2023/2024 school year and will be available on gov.ie/school transport.

The Minister also confirmed the waiving of examination entry fees for the approximately 135,000 students registered to take the 2023 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations.  Students sitting the examinations this year will not have to pay these fees, which in 2019 were €116 and €109 for the Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations respectively.

Minister Foley said: “Today’s measures reflect our commitment to reducing the pressures of the cost of living across society.

“I am pleased to confirm that examination entry fees for this year’s State examinations are being waived, as part of relieving overall cost of living pressures on families around the country. Students will not now be required to pay a fee to enter for the examinations.

“We are also today announcing a reduction in the previous level of charges of the school transport fees for the upcoming school year which will see parents saving on the cost of tickets compared to the 2021/2022 school year. I know that this will be a welcome reduction for families who are planning for the next school year.”

ENDS