According to The Journal, Minister for Education Norma Foley is set to announce the waiver of state examination fees for 2025 and an extension of reduced school transport fees, in what is expected to be the final Cabinet meeting before the general election.
The school transport scheme’s reduced fees will continue through the 2025-2026 academic year, maintaining the current rates of:
- €50 for primary school students
- €75 for secondary school students
- €125 maximum cap per family
This extension maintains the significant reduction from previous rates, which were €100 for primary and €350 for secondary students, with a €650 family cap before 2023.
The plan also includes waiving the 2025 state examination fees of:
- €119 for Leaving Certificate students
- €109 for Junior Cycle students
The Department of Education estimates these measures will benefit approximately 120,000 children using school transport and 100,000 students sitting state examinations, with a combined cost to the state of €70 million.