Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 July 2012
210 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide information on the percentage amount that school book publishers have brought their prices down by in each year over the past four years including in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36489/12]
View answer211 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage reduction in price being provided by school book publishers to schools who buy in bulk for setting up book rental schemes; if he is satisfied with the level of reduction being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36490/12]
View answer212 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the saving that schools will make this year compared to last year for those schools that buy in bulk from school book publishers for setting up a book rental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36491/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 to 212, inclusive, together.
I am very conscious that the cost of textbooks is a considerable burden on families. Since becoming Minister for Education and Skills, I have attempted to take steps to reduce the burden on families. Shortly after coming into office I met with members of the Irish Educational Publishers' Association and impressed on them the need to limit the cost of textbooks. I have also stressed to them the real need to avoid placing schools and families in a position where textbooks are altered unnecessarily.
The Association has responded positively to my approaches and have agreed a voluntary Code of Practice among their members. The Code commits the publishers to limit the publication of new editions and to maintaining editions of books in print unchanged for at least six years.
The publishers have also given assurances to me that they will sell textbooks to schools at discounts in the range 10% to 17.5% so that schools can purchase textbooks in bulk to stock textbook rental schemes. My Department does not have data to show the price reductions over the last four years, as requested by the Deputy.
All these developments are welcome, and I look forward to seeing the members of the Association implement these commitments. My Department recently published research which shows that there is a high level of book rental schemes in operation at primary school level. The research indicates that 76% of primary schools operate a book rental scheme and I want to encourage this practice across all schools. Results at second level are not as conclusive.
I refer the Deputy to the "Report on Textbook Rental Schemes in Schools and the Allocation of Textbook Grants by the Department of Education and Skills" and the draft "Guidelines on Developing School Textbook Rental Schemes" which I published at the end of May. I believe that these documents will help to inform the debate on the issue. Following receipt of the opinions of the representatives of teachers, principals, school management, parents, students and other on the policy options outlined in the report, I hope to make a decision by the end of the summer so that if there are any changes to the book grant scheme schools will have a year's advance notice.
