asked the Minister for Education if he will give an estimate of the approximate annual cost of providing free text books for pupils attending primary schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Free Text Books in Primary Schools.
I regret that I am not in a position to furnish with any substantial degree of accuracy an estimate of the annual cost of providing free text books for all pupils attending national schools. The amount of official time and work which would be involved in the preparation of an accurate estimate would be such as would not, in my opinion, be warranted.
However, on what from the information available to my Department appears to be a reasonable basis, it would cost on an all-over average of 6/- per pupil, £150,000 per annum to provide free books for the 500,000 pupils in attendance at national schools.