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School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

Questions (185, 186, 195, 218)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

185. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make funding available to those schools who currently operate a book rental scheme but cannot afford to replace and update the schemes which they are currently using despite them being out of date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55304/13]

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Charlie McConalogue

Question:

186. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make funding available to those schools who currently operate a book rental scheme for one subject in order that they can establish the book rental scheme for all their subjects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55305/13]

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Robert Troy

Question:

195. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure the recently annouced book rental grant moneys are released to those schools who have taken the initiative and set up a partial book rental scheme of their own, (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55457/13]

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Mick Wallace

Question:

218. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider the case of a school (details supplied) in County Wexford, which took the initiative to establish a book rental scheme six years ago but will not be able to avail of the planned €15 million investment in book rental schemes even though the scheme needs an infusion of money every year in order to replace older books, purchase newer editions and increase the overall number of books available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1034/14]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 185, 186, 195 and 218 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.

It is my aim to ensure that every primary school in the country has a book rental scheme. Therefore, I am targeting schools with no schemes initially as to include all primary schools would mean that the funding would be so diluted that it would have little impact. However, should more funds become available I would like to extend the grants to others. The Department will be contacting primary schools that do not currently operate a book rental scheme to advise them of the application process. Following receipt of applications from these schools it will be possible to determine whether any residual funding may be made available to other schools. 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 existing book rental scheme.

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