asked the Minister for Education if he will give details of the means test in respect of the issue of free school books, stating who is and who is not entitled to such books; and why such free school books are not supplied to the children whose parents are the holders of medical cards from the local authority.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Free School Books.
46.
The qualification for assistance under the free book scheme for necessitous pupils is that the school principal be satisfied that there is genuine hardship in the home due to unemployment, prolonged illness of parents, large family with inadequate means, mother a widow, etc. Subject to this and to the amount of money available to him, the principal has discretion in the distribution of grants. I would expect that the possession of a medical card would be a factor to be taken into account when assessing individual cases.
The Minister is aware that complaints have been made to his Department that the children of parents, the holders of medical cards because they are in poor circumstances, have not been certified for one reason or another, as eligible for free school books in more than one school. Is the Minister aware that people do not get medical cards except as a result of very strict inquiries by the local authority and, if people have medical cards, surely their children should obtain free school books?
The scheme is not very long in operation and it has been our experience so far that the best way to handle the scheme is to give the discretion to the principal of the school since he is aware of all the circumstances surrounding a particular pupil. Rather than follow the rigid rule of people with medical cards automatically getting this assistance, we think it is a better idea to let the principal make the decision on the circumstances in each case. However, I shall have the scheme reviewed at the end of the year. I have been getting some complaints but, so far, we are satisfied it operates best this way.
The Minister is also aware that the principal of a school may be living, perhaps enclosed, five, six or seven miles away from where the pupils live and may not, therefore, be intimate with the family circumstances.
It is a point of view.
Is it not also a point of view that only a fraction of the money required to give free school books to those who claim them is being made available? Is that not the problem? It is the miracle of the loaves and fishes.
It is true that every time one brings in a new scheme demand tends to outrun resources.
I agree, but the poor principals should not be burdened with the responsibility.
They are the people on the spot.
They have not got the money.