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School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2013

Tuesday, 17 December 2013

Questions (225, 237)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

225. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason that non-DEIS schools which have a current book rental scheme funded out of their own resources are not eligible to apply for the new book rental grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54096/13]

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Brendan Smith

Question:

237. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason schools which had already established a book rental scheme are excluded from the scheme of financial assistance announced recently; the proposals he has to include all schools in this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54210/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 237 together.The Deputies will be aware from Budget 2014 that additional funding has been provided which will involve an investment of €15m to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. The Department will provide €5m in seed capital per annum over a three year period to such schools. I want to achieve a position where every primary schools has a book rental schemes in operation in the 2014/2015 school year.This scheme will be confined to primary schools that do not currently operate such a scheme. To extend it to all schools would mean that the funding available to each school would be diluted to such an extent as to have little impact. I wholeheartedly commend schools that have established book rental schemes to date. However, I regret that they will not be eligible to apply for funding under this scheme.I can confirm to the Deputies that the Department will continue to provide a book grant to all primary schools. This grant, which provided €7m to primary schools in 2013, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's book rental scheme.

Question No. 226 answered with Question No. 172.
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