Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
865. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the huge costs faced by parents in relation to sending children back to school; and if she will address these costs and the waste in relation to buying physical books (details supplied). [42858/22]
View answerAs Minister for Education, I am acutely aware of the costs faced by families upon the return of their children to school. I am conscious that buying textbooks is a significant cost for parents and for this reason 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, my Department provided funding of €18.2 million in 2022 to all of these schools. Schools participating in my Department’s DEIS Programme receive an enhanced rate of book grant
Schools are expected to adopt a cost-conscious approach to the selection of books for use in their classes. Apart from a small number of prescribed texts at post-primary level, determined by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), the decisions on which textbooks, programmes and resources, if any, to use in primary and post-primary schools are taken at school level.
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 book grant funding in the school. The current arrangement relies on the local knowledge of the school in order to ensure a fair allocation of funds to those students most in need.
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 pilot programme. The pilot provides for free school books for students in the schools involve in order to support these schools in eliminating the cost of school books for parents. This pilot programme is being continued for the 22/23 school year and will be subject to evaluation.
I have recently announced additional measures designed to help families with school-going children returning to school which includes the non-charging of fees for school bus tickets which will provide families with savings of up to €500 on the costs of tickets.
Additionally, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BTSCFA) helps families meet the cost of uniforms and footwear for children going to school.
The BTSCFA scheme is open for applications from eligible parents until 30 September 2022, and can be accessed on www.mywelfare.ie
The Education (Student and Parent Charter) Bill is currently before Dáil Éireann. When enacted, it will improve how schools engage with students and their parents by requiring each school to consult with students and their parents on individual school plans, policies and activities, including school costs. This will help ensure that the various views of students and parents will be heard and responded to by schools.
