Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
500. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the projected cost of ensuring every primary and secondary school has a school library, a school librarian, and access to the school digital library service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37008/23]
View answerThe estimated costing in relation to the provision of libraries in approximately 3,300 primary and 730 post-primary schools would be substantial. For example the provision of a librarian in each school would have an estimated cost of €212,000,000 per annum. The provision would include many different factors in addition to librarians such as provision of the physical space, fixtures and fittings, IT facilities, librarian assistants, stock (physical and digital), national co-ordinator, professional development etc. In order to have accurate costings an evaluation would be required to include an assessment of the different school structures as each school type would require different works etc.
Under the Programme for Government my Department was tasked with the development of a successor Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy. The strategy is being informed by robust research to include consideration of national and international practice, by extensive stakeholder engagement and public consultation. It is intended that the new strategy would be published in 2023. This strategy will set the vision for the coming 10 years with recommendations/ actions to improve literacy, numeracy and digital literacy levels from early years to post-primary level.
