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IN WHAT IS expected to be the final Cabinet meeting before the general election is called, Minister for Education Norma Foley is set to bring a plan to waive state exam fees next year and reduce school transport scheme fees.
The Minister secured funding as part of the Budget to keep the current reduced school transport scheme fees in place for the forthcoming 2025-2026 school year.
Before the 2023-24 academic year, the annual school transport scheme fees were €100 for primary students and €350 for secondary school students, and the cap was €650 per family.
In 2023, these fees were reduced to €50 for a primary school child and €75 for a child in secondary school. The maximum fee for a family was capped at €125.
These reduced fees are being kept in place for the 2024-2025 school year and will now be also kept in place for the 2025-2026 school year.
According to the Department of Education, this will benefit approximately 120,000 children that pay fees to use the school transport system.
Meanwhile, the waiver of the examination fee of €119 for Leaving Cert students and €109 for Junior Cycle students will benefit approximately 100,000 students expected to be sitting State examinations in 2025.
Both measures will cost the state a combined €70m.
Recognition of Palestine
Meanwhile, Cabinet is also set to approve the establishment of a full embassy and Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, following the recognition of Palestine earlier this year.
At the moment, Palestine is represented in Ireland by the Palestinian Mission, headed by an ‘Ambassador – Head of Mission’.
If Cabinet approve a full embassy today it will mean the diplomatic mission will now benefit from the full range of privileges and immunities applicable under the Vienna Convention.
The current Ambassador – Head of Mission is Dr Jilan Wahba. It is not yet confirmed if Wahba will continue as ambassador, with an announcement expected after Cabinet tomorrow morning.
The Irish Government, alongside Spain and Norway formally recognised the state of Palestine back in May.
Palestine formally notified the Department of Foreign Affairs of its intention to change its representation in Ireland to a resident Embassy under the Vienna Convention last month.
This came after formal diplomatic relations between Ireland and Palestine were established on 29 September, through an exchange of diplomatic notes.
Palestinian has had a delegation in Dublin since 1993, with its status upgraded to “Palestinian Mission” and the title of the Delegate-General to “Ambassador-Head of Mission” in 2011.
Separately, as reported by The Journal at the weekend, Minister Eamon Ryan will seek Cabinet approval for significant new powers to allow secret flash raids of US aircraft suspected of carrying weapons or parts that could be used in wars like the Israeli assault on Gaza.
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I remember when I was a teenager and I was hooked slowly and surely by the poker machines in arcades. Got to a stage that I knew I had a issue so had to leave just to make a fresh start. My parents did not know as I was able to hide my problem. Went to the UK and made a point of never going into the gambling shops so just stayed away. 30 odd years later I am back home with a great family .. no issues…degree and good job…..I was able to do this okay because it was easier those days to get away from it. These days kids are online non stop and getting away from it is harder.. we need to stop the advertising during games that offer free bets etc. We need to look after the young…it’s a different and can be a hard world out there.
@Dan: it is such an insidious addiction, wrecks lives in such a silent manner. If you are lying in bed next to a drunkard, you know it , and even the most hardened drinker can only spend so much money. If you are living with somebody who is dependent on the needle , there are signs that you can try to tackle. With the proliferation of online gambling availability , the person lying beside you can be drowning in debt, you can be losing your home , and not even know it . It’s a curse for all involved
Walking into Dr Quirkeys in Dublin is extremely depressing, went in to use the arcades with my mates and there’s just swathes of people sitting using the slot machines for hours on end.. why don’t they understand that the machines are literally programmed and designed to take more than they give, and are impossible to earn from unless you’re swapping around frequently and using other peoples machines.
@Sean Murphy: unfortunately I think a lot of them know that. From knowing a person with gambling addiction it is a form of escape from real life – where they forget about their issues and responsibilities. It’s that feeling that becomes addictive for a lot. These people even if they win they will put it straight back.
@Sean Murphy: It’s not about winning, it’s about the thrill possibly winning.
@Sean Murphy: buy bitcoin
@Chiqeyo: explains a lot, genuinely didn’t think of it from that angle, cheers for the explanation. Adds a new dimension to the gloom in gambling sites.
@Chiqeyo: explains a lot, genuinely didn’t think of it from that angle, cheers for the explanation. Adds a new dimension to the gloom in gambling sites.
@Philip King ⚡️:
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
@Patrick Nolan: less of a risk than pumping cash into slot machines!
I bet there is more !
40,000 in Dublin, more like:
There’s probably more than 1 million if the lotto is anything to go by
I bet ya there’s not
My problem is i don’t win!
Waaaaaay higher than that..not even up for debate that’s not even close
What were the odds of that!
I was at an event recently and I was sitting behind a young lad no more than 16, who I could see was on a well known Irish gambling app on his mobile and he was placing a bet. Who’s account had he access to because you have to submit ID to open an account?
I remember thinking I hope that boy doesn’t ever descend into addiction issues as I know people who have problems from gambling in arcades on the fruit machines.
People in Ireland get introduced to gambling at a very young age. Look at all those machines targeting kids that you put money in and you might get a toy or a bunch of coins…. that is gambling and should be illegal to target kids.
Hard to believe with so few gambling outlets, there is only the Internet, racetrack (with alcohol & credit card facilities), mobile phone aps, Bookies (can be found beside pubs), casinos, wonder if I have left some out?
They should be taking advice from Ivan Yates.
I bet you there,s more.
I was at an event recently and seated in front of me was a boy of about 15 or 16. I could see he was logged into the paddy power app and was placing bets. He definitely wasn’t 18. Who’s account was he using coz I know you have to send in ID to set up an account.
Nonsense…bet ya a 100 euro there’s not
I bet you a 5er there isnt
Local one here in Cork is open 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Gamble any time of the day or night.
Cash, Visa or MasterCard.
No one cares as long as you have money.
have your say