asked the Minister for Education if he will consider extending the free book scheme to include students attending private schools, particularly students whose mothers are widows.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Book Scheme.
31.
I do not consider that it would be in accordance with the fundamental purpose of the scheme to extend it to fee-paying private schools.
What is the total cost of the scheme?
I can only give the total cost for the year ending 31st January, 1974, for secondary schools. That includes comprehensive, community and vocational schools and what one would normally describe as secondary schools. It is £536,308. I have not got the figure for the total cost of the primary free school books scheme but I can tell the Deputy that the rate per needy pupil which was at £1 per pupil in each of the years 1968-1972 was increased to £1.30 per pupil in 1973, to £2 in 1974 and to £3 in 1975.