Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
247. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education how the free schoolbook scheme is supposed to be applied by schools; if she is aware that some schools using the scheme are still charging parents for other school supplies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31889/23]
View answerAs Minister for Education, I believe it is crucially important that children and young people are actively supported to access education in its fullest forms. This Government recognises that the cost of preparing children for school each September can be a cause of financial difficulty and worry for many Irish families.
Earlier this year I announced the establishment of Ireland’s first national primary school book scheme. More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from this new measure. In March, my Department published and issued extensive guidance to schools on the operation of the scheme.
At a minimum, the scheme will provide free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for all children and young people in recognised primary schools and special schools and will eliminate the cost of schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks for parents of children and young people enrolled in these schools. Parents/guardians experiencing any issues in relation to this may contact the Department at freeprimaryschoolbooks@education.gov.ie.
Once the cost of schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks has been met and where funding permits, schools should use the grant to eliminate costs of related classroom resources such as pens, pencils and erasers. Related classroom resources may also include items provided by schools where a charge was previously levied on parents, for example, art materials and photocopying. However, it is recognised, that, in some schools, the total book grant provided may not be sufficient to cover the costs of all related classroom resources. Schools must communicate with families and inform them where related classroom resources cannot be provided under the scheme setting out what items are required or what items will be provided by any charge levied on parents under the schoolbook scheme.
In implementing the free schoolbook scheme, schools are expected to adopt a cost conscious approach but it is also important to note that primary schools and special schools will continue to have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements. The scheme seeks to ensure that value for money is achieved and that primary schools and special schools will be supported to implement it in a way that delivers the best learning outcomes for pupils.
The book grant funding issued directly to schools in April to ensure that schools have sufficient time to implement the scheme in advance of the 2023/24 school year. Schools have received €96 per pupil and this is paid based on validated enrolment figures.
My Department engaged with all relevant stakeholders as to how the scheme will operate. These included: primary school management bodies, unions, the National Parents Council Primary, representatives of booksellers and schoolbook publishers, IBEC, Retail Ireland, the Small Firms Association, Barnardos and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. My Department also engaged with a number of schools, including some of the primary schools participating in the DEIS pilot free book scheme, to learn of their first-hand experience of operating a book rental scheme.
A full evaluation of the first year of implementation of the scheme will be undertaken in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, to inform the guidance, implementation, costs and efficiency of the scheme for future years.
As Minister for Education, I am acutely aware of the various costs faced by families upon the return of their children to school each September and am confident that this new provision will significantly reduce the back to school financial burden for many families.
