Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
209. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to fund a central school book provision scheme for primary and secondary school children, which would see books provided free of cost at all schools. [42896/12]
View answerI 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. All these developments are welcome, and I look forward to seeing the members of the Association implement these commitments.
My Department published research last May 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.It is estimated that approximately €60m is spend on textbooks in Ireland annually. My Department provided approximately €15m in total to first and second level schools by way of book grants in 2012. A grant of €11 per pupils is provided to primary schools, with DEIS schools receiving €21. At second level the grant is €24, with DEIS schools receiving €39 per pupil.
Given the scale of our economic crisis, I have no scope to introduce new or additional funding measures generally or for specific purposes, such as that referred to by the Deputy.
