Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
134. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the review into the schoolbook grant scheme for primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52740/23]
View answerAs Minister for Education, I believe it is crucially important that children and young people be 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.
As part of Budget 2023, I announced a major investment of over €50 million to provide free schoolbooks in recognised primary schools and special schools. This was a landmark moment in Irish education and one that furthers our goal to provide free education for all and ensure that every child can benefit from free education.
The Free Primary Schoolbook Scheme has resulted in over 561,000 pupils in over 3,230 recognised primary schools, including over 130 special schools benefiting from free schoolbooks, workbooks and classroom resources from September 2023.
Detailed guidance for schools on the scheme was developed and published by my Department and issued to all recognised primary schools and special schools in March.
My Department outlined in the guidance document that an evaluation of the first year of implementation of the scheme would be carried out. The evaluation will look at specific aspects of the scheme including the effectiveness of its operation, possible improvements to the scheme for future years and expenditure under the scheme.
My Department has commenced the evaluation with 230 schools selected to participate. These schools are now requested to provide a detailed return to my Department that includes information across a number of areas of the scheme including financial details in relation to the cost of books and resources, details on the implementation of the scheme within the school, procurement, administration support and general feedback on the scheme.
Timely completion of the return by schools is a hugely important part of the evaluation process. I am very grateful for the assistance that the 230 schools are providing by engaging fully in this evaluation process.
It is planned that officials from my Department will also meet with a small number of schools following completion of the evaluation returns in order to hear first-hand of their experiences of year one of the scheme. My Department will engage with a number of other stakeholders, including schoolbook publishers and schoolbook sellers, to establish their views on the new scheme.
