Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
329. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Education if she has considered implementing a system through which students can loan books to siblings even though they have a once-off e-book code which requires purchasing a new physical book to obtain a new e-book code; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36447/21]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school on behalf of the Patron.
The Department published Circular 32/2017 in 2017 which introduced measures to be adopted by schools to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs. This includes principles of cost-effective practices to be adopted, including review the cost of items which they require parents to purchase and this information should be made available to the school community.
www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Information/Costs-to-Parents/Reducing-Costs-to-Parents-School-Uniforms.html.
Decisions regarding school books are a matter for each individual school. While the Department sets out the composition of boards of management and rules of procedure, it is not directly involved in the day to day management of schools. Any suggestions regarding policies in the school should be raised informally with the principal, who can bring the issue to the attention of board of management.
