Tipperary councillor says families are being 'pushed past breaking point' with new fees

Families across Tipperary are reeling this week after discovering that school bus fees have doubled without warning and that parents now have less time than ever to pay.

Cllr Louise Morgan Walsh says the move by the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael-led Government has left many local households “shocked, angry, and wondering how much more they can take.”

As the Bus Éireann School Transport Portal opened, parents were met with an unexpected jump in the cost of a seat from €50 to €100 per child. To make matters worse, the payment deadline has been pulled forward to 8 May 2026, cutting the time families previously relied on to gather the money.

Speaking on the matter, Cllr Morgan Walsh said she has already heard from parents who feel blindsided.

“Parents are exhausted,” she said. “They’re juggling work, bills, childcare, and the weekly shop — and now this Government has quietly doubled school bus fees without even the courtesy of a public announcement.

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“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael hoped families wouldn’t notice until it was too late. It’s cynical, it’s out of touch, and it’s utterly shameful.”

She said many parents have told her they feel “sick with worry” about how they will manage yet another unexpected cost.

A Growing Burden on Local Families

Cllr Morgan Walsh said this latest increase is part of a wider pattern that is hitting families from every direction.

School Transport: Fees doubled to €100 per child; family cap raised to €220

State Exams: Junior and Leaving Cert fees reinstated, adding over €100 per student.

Third Level: A €500 rise in college fees, making university feel further out of reach for many.

“Every week, families are being squeezed tighter,” she said. “Between the grocery shop, the mortgage, fuel, and now these education charges, people are being pushed past breaking point.

“For a family with two children in secondary school, you’re now looking at nearly €450 in hidden government taxes just to get them to school and let them sit their exams. That is not free education. That is a Government quietly pricing ordinary families out of opportunity.”

“Don’t Let Their Silence Cost Your Child a Seat”

Despite her anger at the Government’s approach, Cllr Morgan Walsh urged parents to act quickly to protect their child’s place.

Final Deadline: All applications and payments must be completed by Friday, 8 May 2026.

Instalment Plan: Available, though she describes it as “a sticking plaster on a gaping wound.”

Medical Card/SEN: Exemptions still apply, but registration is still required by 8 May.

She warned that many families may not realise the deadline has changed.

Cllr Morgan Walsh said the silence from Government TDs has left families feeling abandoned.

“The silence from our local Government representatives is deafening,” she said. “Families deserve honesty. They deserve respect. And they deserve a Government that doesn’t spring financial shocks on them without warning.

“I am urging every parent to demand answers from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael before the May 8th deadline closes the door on their child’s school transport.”