Vol. 443 No. 4
36 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education, in regard to the recommendations of a company (details supplied) regarding the desirability of a school book rental system, the steps, if any, that are being taken to facilitate the introduction of such a system; if a rental scheme will be in place for the next school year; the additional resources which will be provided for schools to assist in the operation of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
With a view to minimising the financial burden on parents in the provision of school text books for their children my Department has been recommending the establishment of book rental schemes in schools for some years now. To facilitate the introduction of such schemes guidelines for the operation of book rental schemes were issued to all schools in August, 1991. A significant number of schools already operate such schemes.
The main finding in the consultant's report referred to in the Deputy's question was that book rental schemes are the most practical method of reducing the cost of school books to parents. Copies of the report have been sent to all schools with a view to stimulating the establishment of rental schemes in schools which do not already have them. The report contains a number of useful suggestions including a code of good practice for the successful operation of book rental schemes. In the final analysis, the establishment of a rental scheme is a matter for decision by each individual school.
The provision of seed capital for the start-up of book rental schemes is a particular problem for schools in disadvantaged areas. As an initial step to address this problem, I am making £65,000 available this year to help schools classified as disadvantaged, which commit themselves to book rental schemes, to overcome the problem of seed capital.
