Micheál Martin
Question:318 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education the average cost per pupil of establishing a book loan scheme for junior cycle students and for senior cycle students. [19209/95]
Written Answers. - Book Loan Scheme.
A report carried out by Cooney Carey, business consultants, and submitted to my Department in 1993, dealt with the factors which contribute to the cost of school text books. The main recommendation of the report is that book rental schemes are the most practical way of curtailing the cost of school books to parents. As part of an analysis of book rental schemes, the consultants outlined a number of options which were based on differing assumptions e.g. phasing in of subjects; rental costs; mix of new and second hand books. Under these options, the cost to schools of purchasing books ranged from £72.06 to £160.00 per pupil at junior cycle and from £54.24 to £185.22 per pupil at senior cycle.
Seed capital is recognised as a major problem in the setting up of school book rental schemes. Since the Cooney Carey report was submitted, there have been significant developments in this area. Seed capital was provided for the first time for primary and second level schools in 1994, and continued in 1995. It was targeted at schools which are categorised as disadvantaged. At second level, £391,000 was allocated as seed capital to such schools in 1994 and £500,000 in 1995.