Vol. 415 No. 9
163 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education if his attention has been drawn to the fact that (a) primary schools are now being allocated less than 50p per pupil per year for the purchase of library books and (b) the stock of school library books is rapidly being depleted.
167 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Education if he will make a realistic increase in the grant for library books; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 167 together.
I am pleased to announce that the allocation for the national school library grant scheme has been increased for 1992 from £213,000 to £250,000. This provision allows the rate of grant, which was increased from 21p per pupil to 38p per pupil in 1989, to be further increased to 46p per pupil this year. Resources do not permit a further increase to 50p per pupil at present.
I wish to remind the Deputy that, in addition, my Department in 1989 provided an allocation of £1 million funded by the national lottery for the replenishment of the stock of books used for the national school libraries scheme.
