Sorca Clarke
Question:576. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of introducing free school books to fifth and sixth year students, in tabular form. [57350/23]
View answerWednesday, 17 January 2024
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As 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.
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 introduction of this measure directly addressed our commitment under the Programme for Government to commence a free schoolbooks scheme pilot in September 2020 and expand the scheme to schools nationwide, as resources allow.
To further the delivery of our important government commitment, I announced that funding is allocated under Budget 2024 to extend the free schoolbooks scheme to all students in junior cycle years in public post primary schools. The total funding available for this extension of the scheme is €67 million.
The grant for this scheme will be paid based on the previous year’s validated enrolment figures which, for the 2024/25 school year, will be the number of students enrolled in junior cycle for the current 2023/24 school year.
It is estimated that up to 213,000 students, in over 670 schools across all counties, will benefit from this new measure, which will commence from September 2024.
Guidance on the new junior cycle free schoolbooks scheme will be developed over the coming period as part of our engagement process with all stakeholders. The scheme will aim to ensure that value for money is achieved, and that schools will be supported to implement the scheme in a way that has the best learning outcomes for junior cycle students. Similar to the scheme at primary level, administrative supports will be provided to schools in order to roll out the scheme. Details of the funding, including the per capita rate and the administrative support element, will be set out in the guidance to schools.
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 further and significantly reduce the back to school financial burden for many families.
Post primary schools will continue to receive the existing book grant for students in senior cycle years for the 2024/25 school year.
The extension of the free schoolbook scheme to senior cycle students will be considered as part of future budget negotiations and therefore this information is deemed budget confidential. On this basis we are unable to provide this information at present.