Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
517. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education when the schoolbook scheme moneys will be paid out to schools; the full criteria for the scheme and the specific allocation per pupil; and if additional resources will be made available to schools for the administration of the scheme. [14876/24]
View answerAlthough the question does not specify to which scheme it refers, it is assumed to be in relation to the primary schoolbooks scheme as full details of the new Junior Cycle Schoolbook Scheme have been published and payments have issued to schools in March 2024.
March 2023 saw the Department of Education establish Ireland’s first national Primary Schoolbook Scheme, which provides, at a minimum, free schoolbooks, workbooks and copybooks, in primary schools and special schools. More than 562,000 pupils enrolled in approximately 3,230 recognised primary schools, including over 130 special schools, in the Free Education Scheme, benefited from this measure from September 2023.
This scheme ensures that parents and guardians are not asked to buy or rent any schoolbooks, workbooks or copy books each year. Primary schools and special schools have autonomy to choose books that meet their curricular requirements. This continues to remain the choice of each school.
Detailed guidance on the implementation of the scheme for the current school year is published and was made available to primary schools in advance of the start of the 2023/24 school year. The guidance is currently being updated for the second year of the scheme and has been informed by engagements with all relevant stakeholders as part of an evaluation of the first year of the scheme.
Guidance for the 2024/25 school year will be published and issue to schools as early as possible to allow schools sufficient time to implement the second year of the scheme. As with the first year of the scheme funding will issue directly to schools and will be paid per the number of pupils enrolled in the school in September 2023. Details of the scheme, including the per pupil rate, will be provided in the published guidance.
In recognition of the continued work required by schools to implement the scheme, my Department will provide an Administrative Support Grant to schools which allows them to employ a person/s to assist with the administration of the scheme. Full details of the Administrative Support Grant will also be set out in the scheme guidance for the 2024/25 school year when published.
