Vol. 404 No. 9
58 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she is concerned at the high price of school books at first and second level; the new measures she proposes to take to assist families on low income by way of subsidy; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My Department are aware of the financial strain placed on parents of school pupils in providing school textbooks for their children and has drawn the attention of school authorities to the desirability of changing non-prescribed textbooks as infrequently as possible in order to save parents undue expenditure.
The syllabus planners try to avoid over-frequent changes and are conscious that they should avoid any unnecessary increase in costs. However, textbooks must be changed from time to time if teachers are to keep their work educationally stimulating and if content and methodology are to be kept reasonably up-to-date.
Provision is made for payment of assistance towards the cost of textbooks in the case of necessitous pupils. The scheme is administered through the principal teachers of the schools. I am pleased to say the grant has been increased significantly over the past few years.
At second level the increase was 20 per cent in 1989, 23 per cent in 1990 and it is proposed to implement a 10 per cent increase for 1991.
