asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction regarding the issue of school books, caused by the necessary filling in of forms containing questions regarding means, rent, etc., before the books are supplied; and whether he will withdraw the conditions now required to be fulfilled before the granting of free school books is. considered.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Issue of School Books.
In framing the scheme for the provision of State aid towards the cost of book equipment for necessitous children in attendance at national schools it was felt that managers and teachers of schools in large centres of population might not be aware of the domestic circumstances of all the pupils in attendance. Forms were, accordingly, included in the scheme and issued to such schools, on which parents might be asked, where found necessary, to indicate the family income with a view to enabling the manager to decide the relative claims of particular pupils for a supply of free book equipment. I am not aware of any dissatisfaction in this matter, and, at the moment, I see no reason to modify the provisions of the scheme.