Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 July 2020
406. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the free schoolbook pilot in September 2020; if the 50 schools have been selected; if so, the details of the selection process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17019/20]
View answerAdditional funding of €1 million provided under Budget 2020 was allocated to 102 Primary DEIS schools for a new pilot programme which aims to provide free school books for the 2020/21 school year. This was announced in January of this year and further information including the selection process is available on my Departments website at https://www.education.ie/en/Press-Events/Press-Releases/2020-press-releases/PR20-01-09.html.
The aim of this pilot is to provide free schoolbooks for students in the schools involved, and to support these schools in eliminating the cost of schoolbooks for parents. It will run for a period of one year and its effectiveness and impact will be monitored and evaluated before any decision is made as regards its possible extension or continuation. Under Circular 46/2013, DEIS schools receive a book grant of €21 per student. This pilot will provide an additional €64 per student to increase the overall book grant rate to €85 per student enrolled in the school. This additional funding issued to schools in May 2020.
A list of the 102 participating schools is published on the Department of Education and Skills website and can be found at this link: https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/school-book-pilot-scheme-2020.pdf
As the Deputy is aware, my Department provides a book grant to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books including Book Rental Schemes. Under this scheme, the Department provided funding of €16.9 million in 2019 to all of these schools.
