The Department of Education has defended a decision to increase school bus charges from next September, saying the scheme remains heavily subsidised, with over 92% of the overall cost covered.
Fees for primary school children will double for the coming academic year, from €50 per child to €100, while post-primary fees will rise from €75 to €100.
The cap for families is also being increased substantially, from €125 to €220.
In a statement, the department said this meant a primary school ticket would cost the equivalent of 55 cent per school day, and a post‑primary ticket would cost approximately 60 cent per school day.
It said transport would continue to be provided free of charge for eligible medical card holders and all eligible children and young people with special educational needs.
However, the increase has been heavily criticised by a number of TDs, with Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan saying families already struggling with a cost-of-living crisis were "furious".
"Doubling school transport fees for primary children and hiking the family cap by €95 is simply unacceptable.
"This is yet another additional expense being loaded onto families who rely on this essential service to get their children to school safely every day," she said.
The department said a recent review of the School Transport Scheme found that having a fee helps make better use of resources and prevents seats on school buses from going unused, "helping to protect and sustain the scheme for all families who need it".
Demand for school transport has grown significantly, with the number of students using the scheme rising from over 120,000 in 2019 to 181,100 in 2025. More than 24,400 children and young people with special educational needs now use SEN transport services, an 82% increase since 2018.
Applications for the next academic year are now open, with a closing date of 8 May.
The service is run by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education, with the department setting the charges.
Children are generally eligible for school transport if they live at least 3.2 km from their nearest national school, or 4.8km from their nearest post-primary school.
Children who are not eligible for school transport but complete the application and payment process on time will be considered for any spare seats available after eligible children have been accommodated.
Children who are eligible for school transport and have a valid medical card do not have to pay the annual fee. However, their families need to submit medical card details by the 8 May deadline.
Applications can be made via the School Transport Services section of the Bus Éireann website.
