Catherine Murphy
Question:745. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if the free books scheme will be administered centrally or by individual schools. [13449/23]
View answerTuesday, 21 March 2023
Questions (745)
Written answers
Budget 2023 has allocated additional funding to provide free schoolbooks to primary school pupils enrolled in recognised primary schools, including special schools, from September 2023. The measure will eliminate the cost to families for all school books, including workbooks and where possible some related classroom resources, in recognised primary schools and special schools.
My Department has engaged with all relevant stakeholders, including schools, management bodies, unions, representatives of booksellers and schoolbook publishers, as to how the scheme will operate. Schools were recently informed that my Department will issue detailed guidance in advance of the Easter break on the implementation of the scheme. The implementation of this scheme will build on the existing book rental schemes in place already in the majority of primary schools and the DEIS pilot free schoolbook scheme.
The guidance has been informed by the engagement with all stakeholders, including schools who have participated in the DEIS pilot. The scheme is planned on the basis that funding will be provided directly to schools and they will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements. The scheme will seek to ensure that value for money is achieved and that primary schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for pupils.