Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
564. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will examine the system under which licences are granted for online books (details supplied) with a view to having no time limits placed on the usage under the licences, with particular emphasis for families with more than one child in the same school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37784/22]
View answerThe decision to use technology including e-books is a matter for the Board of Management of a schools. Where the introduction of new technology is planned, consultation with members of the school community including parents is advised. The cost and other implications must be fully considered by the Boards of Management before a decision is made. Schools, in conjunction with parents and the wider school community, retain local autonomy for decisions on the use of digital technologies in the context of their digital learning planning, and how to embed their use to enhance teaching and learning. In making this decision each school should consider all the available information.
The Professional Development Service for Teachers Technology in Education (PDST-TIE) offers advice to schools and have developed an advice sheet, on the adoption of tablets in schools, on it's website which covers areas such as what tablets can offer a school, educational and purchasing considerations, and software.
I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by educators and parents, in relation to costs of digital devices including eBooks, and my Department continues to work to help support schools and families meet these costs. In 2017 a circular letter issued to schools with measures to be adopted to reduce the cost of school uniforms and other costs. This circular also instructed schools to consult with parents and their school community on the issue of ensuring costs are reasonable for parents, and how to avoid costs acting as a barrier. This circular specified that wherever possible, generic rather than branded items should be specified (e.g. uniform, clothing, IT tablets, sports equipment etc.). The issue of costs to parents will also be included in the Guidelines that will issue with the Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill 2018.
My Department currently provides a book grant of over €17.2 million to all recognised primary and post primary schools within the Free Education Scheme in order to provide assistance for books, including book rental schemes (which can include ebooks), and all schools are encouraged to operate book rental schemes to help alleviate costs to parents. It is a matter for the board of management of each individual school to decide on its own policy in relation to the use of this funding in the school, but they are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes.
Additional funding of €1million was provided under Budget 2020 to provide free books in DEIS primary schools on a pilot basis. This funding was allocated to 102 DEIS primary schools for a new pilot programme for the 2020/21 school year. The aim of this pilot is to provide free school books for students in the schools involved, and to support these schools in eliminating the cost of school books for parents.
Under Circular 46/2013, DEIS primary schools receive a book grant of €21 per pupil. This pilot provided an additional €64 per pupil to increase the overall book grant rate to €85 per pupil enrolled in the school. This is in line with the costings as set out in the 2019 Barnardos report on the Real Cost of School which states that €85 is the average cost of school books at primary school.
Funding continued for the 2021/22 and 2022/23 school year and the effectiveness and impact of the pilot will be evaluated before any decision is made as regards its possible extension or continuation.
School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of school books for parents. In order to support the establishment of book rental schemes, my Department provided €15.7 million seed capital in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to primary schools. Some 96% of primary schools and 68% of post-primary schools currently operate a book rental scheme.
In addition, the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 was published in April 2022 and builds on the achievements of the previous Digital Strategy for Schools 2015-2020. It aims to further support the school system so that all students across our schools have the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills they need to navigate an ever-evolving digital world successfully. The strategy was developed following an extensive consultation process with all relevant stakeholders including students, parents/guardians, teachers and industry and sets out the various supports and resources available to schools in this important area.
The strategy is underpinned by an overall investment of €200m, €50m of which has already issued directly to schools. In addition, €50m in grant funding was issued to schools in November 2021 as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) to address the needs of their learners at risk of educational disadvantage through the digital divide. Again this builds on the overall investment of €210m under the previous strategy.
Most publishers issue eBooks free of charge with the purchase of their text books, but this is at the publisher’s discretion. Curriculum specifications and prescribed syllabus material are determined by the NCCA and it is the responsibility of each individual school to select the resources, if any, that it will use to support its implementation of the curriculum. The NCCA and the Department does not endorse or recommend particular materials. This includes text books, and it is a matter for each school to consider all relevant issues, including discussing license requirements for eBooks with the publishers.
Scoilnet, the Department funded website, provides open access to the Irish education system to rich appropriate content including Encyclopaedia Britannica, Irish newspaper archives, and other curated sites.
