Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Written Answers. - Book Rental Scheme.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

445 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if Moville Community College will receive grants for book rental schemes similar to other secondary schools in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1725/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

My Department operates a grant scheme towards the cost of providing school textbooks for needy pupils in post-primary schools. For the purposes of this scheme a needy pupil is a pupil from a family where there is genuine hardship because of unemployment, prolonged illness of a parent, large family size with inadequate means, single parenthood, or other family circumstances, such as substance abuse, which would indicate a similar degree of financial hardship.

Principal teachers administer the book grant schemes in schools in a flexible way under the terms of the schemes based on their knowledge of particular circumstances in individual cases. A consultancy report, which was submitted to my Department in 1993, dealt with the factors which contribute to the cost of school text books. The main conclusion of the report was that book rental schemes are the most practical way of limiting the cost of school books to parents. The report, copies of which were sent to all schools, contains a number of useful suggestions, including a code of good practice for successful operation of book rental schemes. My Department endorses the recommendations and urges school authorities to put in place book rental schemes to the greatest extent possible.

Each year, second level schools and vocational education committees furnish to my Department general details of the numbers of needy pupils assisted in the previous school year. Based on these returns the grant is paid by my Department to the individual schools or vocational education committees. In 2002, County Donegal VEC received a grant of €125,873 for distribution among its schools. In addition, seed capital to establish book loan or rental schemes has been provided since 1994 to disadvantaged schools which do not operate such a scheme and which give a commitment to arrange for such a scheme. The intention is to provide some specific financial support for the introduction or expansion of book rental schemes in individual schools on an annual basis, for a maximum of six years, five years in the case of five-year cycle schools. It is envisaged that schools which receive seed capital will be in a position to establish sustainable book loan or rental schemes; ongoing costs will be met by fee income, which can be subsidised in the case of needy pupils from the general book grant scheme allocation. County Donegal VEC received seed capital for the period 1994 to 1999 amounting to €172,557.

Moville Community College opened in September 2001 and accordingly did not benefit from the grant of seed capital to establish book loan or rental schemes. However, if County Donegal VEC on behalf of Moville Community College submits an application for seed capital it will be considered by my Department.