Robert Troy
Question:476. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education when a decision will be made on an appeal by a school (details supplied) under the school grant scheme. [36552/23]
View answerTuesday, 25 July 2023
Questions (476)
Written answers
I refer to your representations on behalf on the school in question in relation to additional funding for the Free Primary Schoolbooks Scheme.
As you know the scheme was announced, and it's details published, on Wednesday 22 March 2023.
More than 558,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 primary schools, including over 130 special schools, will benefit from this measure. This scheme will ensure that parents and guardians will not be asked to buy or rent any school books, workbooks or copy books from the 2023/24 school year. The total investment, of over €50 million, significantly increases the funding for school books previously provided to all recognised primary schools in the country.
The implementation of the measure will build on the experience of the existing school book rental scheme which is available in the majority of recognised primary schools and on the free school books pilot provided to over 100 primary DEIS schools in recent years.
Detailed Guidance on the implementation of the scheme is published and has been made available to primary schools to ensure schools have sufficient time to implement the new scheme in advance of the start of the 2023/24 school year. The Guidance has been informed by the engagements with all relevant stakeholders.
As outlined in the Guidelines provided to schools, the schoolbook grant is calculated based on validated September 2022 enrolment figures.
Funding for Exceptional Cases as outlined in the Guidance caters for schools who may receive a number of pupils after 30th September. My Department received correspondence from a small number of primary schools, requesting additional funding where a significant increase in enrolments has occurred and the school cannot meet the costs of the books from within the original funding allocation.
Those schools have now been contacted and the Department has confirmed that, as an exceptional measure in year one of the scheme, a top up grant will be paid. I can confirm that the application details, under the exceptional cases category, of the school in question have been received by my Department and their application has been processed. The additional funding will issue to the school in the coming days.