asked the Minister for Education whether he has circulated to the primary schools copies of the scheme for the supply of free school books and other school requisites for which provision was made in the Estimates for the current financial year; and, if not, when it is proposed to do so; whether he will state from what date the scheme will be effective, and if it is proposed to refund to teachers any expenditure incurred by them subsequent to April 1st of the present year on the provision of school books and other requisites which would have been provided free if the scheme had been in operation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free School Books.
The scheme for the provision of State aid towards the cost of supplying book equipment for necessitous children was circulated to all national schools last week. The scheme is effective as from 1st instant—the beginning of the current school year.
Have any requisitions been received in the Minister's Department from local authorities to supplement the amount of the State aid towards provision of school books and, if so, are these requisitions being sanctioned?
That is a separate question.
Will the children who will reach school-leaving age at the end of this term be permitted to avail of the State aid for the purchase of the new books which they will be using only from the 1st July to the end of this term?
I presume they will, but I should like to get notice of that question.
That difficulty is arising and I should like the Minister to look into it.