School Textbooks Rental Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 January 2014

Tuesday, 21 January 2014

Questions (239, 242, 253, 264, 283)

Michael Lowry

Question:

239. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills his view on whether it is fair that a school that has commenced a school book rental scheme is excluded from the recently announced book rental grant, even if this scheme is only operational in one class at present; if he will consider extending this to include schools that have a partial book rental scheme; if he will review the case of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary to determine their eligibility for grant aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2405/14]

Michael McGrath

Question:

242. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to an issue raised in correspondence (details supplied) by a primary school principal in Cork City; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2422/14]

Willie Penrose

Question:

253. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills in the context of correspondence (details supplied), if he will take steps to address the anomaly that has arisen under the recently announced grants for book rental schemes, which excludes schools, which in many areas, promoted and advanced school book rental schemes and which are now disadvantaged because of their enterprise; if additional funding can be secured to enable these far seeing schools to be accommodated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2638/14]

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

264. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Education and Skills his proposals for book rental schemes in schools; the reason the scheme is being limited to schools that do not already have a book rental scheme in place; if he will consider extending the scheme so that it supports the initiatives of schools that, through voluntary efforts of teachers and parents, have established book rental schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2816/14]

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

283. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills the assistance available to a school (details supplied) in County Cork with an existing book rental scheme to enable it to continue the scheme into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2928/14]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 239, 242, 253, 264 and 283 together.

First let me clarify that the Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual to all primary schools. This grant, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme.

I want to commend all schools that have used it to help build up book rental schemes over the years. Their efforts mean that the high costs of school books is being significantly reduced for parents.

At my request, the National Parents' Council surveyed the views of their members in relation to currently operating book rental schemes. Parents have reported that where book rental schemes operate, they are open to all parents in 95% of cases, and that the cost per child is under €40 per year in a considerable majority of schools.

Perhaps most tellingly, the survey has found that 93% of parents believe that book rental schemes help with the costs of educating a child. Ensuring that book rental schemes are available to all parents must therefore clearly be our aim.

I understand that it feels unfair to those schools who have invested time and money to establish such schemes, that they now cannot benefit from the additional funding which was secured as part of the Budget. Of course it is unfair, but equally, the status quo was deeply unfair on many parents. The parents who had no access whatsoever to book rental schemes needed more support. With the limited funding available, I believe that targeting this funding - to make sure that every parent in Ireland has access to some level of a book rental scheme - was the greatest good that could be achieved.