asked the Minister for Education whether it is intended to frame proposals to provide free school books for necessitous children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free School Books.
I have had the question to which the Deputy refers further considered. I cannot hold out any hope that proposals for the provision of free school books from State funds are likely to be introduced.
Arising out of the reply, could the Minister indicate whether the Government would consider favourably the introduction of legislation to enable local authorities to raise a rate for the provision of school books for necessitous children?
The Deputy should put down a separate question.
Can the Minister say if any proposals on these lines are coming, or whether he would have an examination carried out, as to the types of books that children, even in primary schools, are asked to get, with a view to seeing if they could not be a little more systematised than they are, apparently, with a view to saving unnecessary cost falling on the parents?
That is a separate question.